Shi Cheng, a submerged ancient city in China


Touring historical ruins is one of the most interesting activities among tourists from all over the world, although few ruins are as amazing as those found at the bottom of the Chinese Lake of Qiandao, in the eastern province of Zhejiang.

Is about Shi Cheng, an ancient city built during the Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 after Christ) and known as the City of the Lion. Do you want to know more about these incredible submerged ruins that can be explored with diving goggles and an oxygen cylinder? Well watch out!

The five lions

Shi Cheng was sunk when the Xin’an River Hydroelectric Dam was completed in 1959, creating a huge artificial lake with a thousand islets. The name of this submerged city alludes to the mountain that rose behind it, the mountain Wu Shi (whose name means "the five lions"), as well as the five gates of the city (an unusual number, since normally the cities had four).


Intact the industrial revolution

Submerged between 26 and 40 meters, the city has remained, paradoxically, intact to the revolution urban planning that has transformed China since its opening to capitalism more than three decades ago, which has devastated much of its cultural heritage.

Underwater excursions

Thus, Shi Cheng has preserved the wall that surrounded it and numerous buildings from the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties. Best of all, all this can be seen on the underwater excursions organized by Big Blue, a diving agency of Shanghai. Of course, visitors must have accredited a diving course advancing to dive.

With their respective waterproof cameras, tourists submarines They must be equipped with a wetsuit because the temperature at the bottom is between eight and ten degrees, while on the surface it ranges from eleven to 32 degrees.

Scuba Diving the Underwater Ancient Ruins of Shi Cheng (Lion City) at Qiandao Lake in China (March 2024)


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