Well-preserved ancient wall protects residents

In Huainan city of East China's Anhui province, there is an ancient wall built in the Song Dynasty (960-1279) and has been kept intact.

Located in the center of Shouxian county, the wall, 8.3 meters high, extends for more than seven kilometers around the county's central area with four gates well preserved.

Named Shouchun, Shouyang and Shouzhou in different periods of the ancient times, Shouxian was an important and densely populated city.

In 241 BC during the Warring States Period (475-221 BC), Chu, one of the seven most powerful kingdoms, moved its capital to Shouxian. The county has been called an 'underground museum' as the kingdom left abundant treasures and relics underground after it was destroyed by the Qin Kingdom.

The ancient wall had been working as a military fortress which also functioned as a fence to protect the people from frequent floods.