We have all dreamed of a city submerged under water in the style of The Little Mermaid, imagining what creatures could be down there, and above all, who built it. Atlantis is one of the most promoted legends in history, originated by Plato, it speaks of an island located beyond the Pillars of Hercules. The legend says that a fury of Zeus caused this incredible island to be buried by the waves of the sea. Up to this point, it seems that everything is legend, but what would happen if we told you that an Atlantis has now appeared in China?
What is there in China?
China is a country full of wonders, but few know that at the bottom of Lake Qiandao hides a city that seems to have stopped in time. It is Shi Cheng, also known as the “Lion City”, intentionally submerged in 1959, but which, against all odds, continues to preserve its original architecture.
Shi Cheng: a city with centuries of history
Founded more than 700 years ago, during the Ming and Qing dynasties (1368-1912).
The curious thing about this city is that it was intentionally submerged. Why? Well, in 1959, the Chinese government built the Xin’an Dam, where the creation of an artificial lake was required.
Pay attention, because to make way for this dam, some 300,000 people were relocated to other cities, leaving practically all their lives and history behind.
After this, the water covered it completely.
Why was it discovered now?
In 2001, the Chinese government organized an expedition to the waters of Lake Qiandao, but of course, many years had passed since this city was submerged and hardly anyone remembered that it was still there.
At 42 meters deep, what was most surprising was the state of preservation of the city, and now it has become a tourist attraction for the most adventurous.
What is there down there?
Its temples, sculptures and streets are still intact, so the curious can observe a city of imperial China from centuries ago.
There was Shi Cheng, intact under the water, with the stairs intact, the murals, the stone roofs, even the tower of the palace houses still there as if the water had not washed them away.
If we focus more on its composition, its streets have some 265 masonry arches in which historical inscriptions and lions, dragons and phoenixes are preserved.
A new hot destination
Of course, the Chinese Atlantis has sparked curiosity among many divers and archaeologists around the world. Who wouldn’t want to see a city that has been submerged in the sea for decades? The Chinese government itself has proposed and encouraged some diving expeditions so that the luckiest can dive into its streets, and specialized companies have already appeared (such as Big Blue, from Shanghai) that are offering underwater tourism for those who want to go down to contemplate a bit of Chinese history underwater.
What is Qiando Lake?
It is the place where Shi Cheng is located, it covers 573 square kilometres and contains no less than 1,078 islands. So, it is an area that fits perfectly into ecotourism and adventure tourism. Although access is now restricted to experienced divers, the images captured by drones and submarines continue to leave incredible images so that those of us who are afraid of the depths can also contemplate this wonder.
Perhaps many may think it is a shame that this jewel is submerged under 42 meters of water and that progress should never bury the past, but isn’t it incredible how nature has wanted to leave everything in its place without changing anything?