A 600-year-old city is sitting almost untouched beneath the waters of Qiandao Lake in eastern China. Known as Shi Cheng, or Lion City, it has been compared to Atlantis because of how well it has survived underwater.
The city was submerged in 1959 during the construction of a hydroelectric dam. What could have been a complete loss turned into something unexpected, as the water ended up preserving much of the original architecture.
Shi Cheng dates back to the Eastern Han Dynasty and expanded during the Ming and Qing dynasties. At its peak, it was a structured regional center with a complete urban layout. Even today, after more than half a century underwater, much of that layout is still visible.
A City Submerged For A Modern Project
Shi Cheng did not disappear naturally. It was flooded on purpose when the Chinese government built a hydroelectric power station that created Qiandao Lake. According to NDTV, this large-scale project led to entire cities being submerged and many local residents being relocated.
The city now rests between 85 and 131 feet below the surface. Before it was flooded, it supported an active urban life, with organized streets, temples, and public buildings.
Once the dam was completed, the rising water gradually covered these structures without immediately destroying them.
This Submerged City Is Still Remarkably Intact
The condition of Shi Cheng is often described as its most remarkable feature. As mentioned by Indy100, the underwater environment protected it from wind, rain, and sunlight, which usually cause buildings to break down over time. Divers exploring the area have reported seeing detailed architectural elements still clearly visible.
“We were lucky. As soon as we dived into the lake, we found the outside wall of the town and even picked up a brick to prove it,” said Qiu Feng, a local tourism chief, as quoted by The DailyMail.
They also found carvings of dragons and phoenixes remain visible on walls and facades. Large gates, stone archways, and staircases are still in place, and in some sections, entire streets can be followed, making it possible to understand how the city was organized.
Buildings have not experienced the same level of decay seen in open-air ruins. The water has acted as a protective layer, even if it makes access more difficult.
A Forgotten Find That Went Global
Shi Cheng remained largely out of public attention for decades after it was submerged. It was only in the early 2000s that teams began to explore it again. In a report by NDTV, these early investigations revealed both the scale of the site and its unusual level of preservation.
Since then, the city has often been called the “Atlantis of the East.” The name reflects the image of a hidden, submerged city that has remained intact and difficult to access. It now attracts experienced divers, researchers, and documentary teams.
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