China’s Lost ‘Atlantis’ Found in Pristine Condition Under Manmade Lake

In 2001, officials in China rediscovered their very own 'Atlantis', submerged in a manmade lake. The underwater city, known as the Lion City or Shi Cheng, lies 40 meters beneath the surface of Qiandao Lake in eastern China, Indy100 reported.

The manmade lake covers approximately 573 square kilometers of area, The Archaeologist reported. 

Shi Cheng was called 'Lion City' after the nearby Wu Shi Mountain (Five Lion Mountain) in the Qiandao Lake, The Archaeologist reported.

The wide streets in the city are surrounded by archways featuring stonework of dragons, phoenixes, and lions, Indy100 reported.

In 1959, the Chinese government decided to build a hydroelectric power plant in the area and took the call to flood the city. People living in and around Shi Cheng were relocated, The Archaeologist reported. Most of these people were connected to the Lion City based on ancestry and culture.

The historical city went beneath the Qiandao Lake after the planned flooding, Indy100 reported.

Officials were surprised to find the city in great condition, despite so many years beneath the water, Indy100 reported. In 2017, authorities decided to open up the city, as a diving site for tourists. 

Researchers believe that the city came into being during the Eastern Han Dynasty between 25 AD and 200 AD, Indy100 reported. The city was a regional seat of power in the eastern province of Zhejiang. It was the center of political and economic activities in the area.

Experts claim that the city walls were erected in the 16th century. The city has five entrance gates, which was unusual for those times, as according to the customs, Chinese cities had four gates surrounding them. 

In 2001, officials dived down to check on the city and were taken aback to find it in almost the same condition as when it was flooded.

Experts believe the city wasn't damaged because the water used in flooding was not corrosive and not conducive to marine life, Indy100 reported.