Ancient Underground Tunnels of Bozhou

Ancient Underground Tunnels of Bozhou

The Ancient Underground Tunnels, a key cultural relic protection unit in Anhui Province, are located beneath the old city area. Centered around Dayushou in the city, they extend in a "cross" shape toward the southeast, southwest, northeast, and northwest, with a total length of about 4,000 meters.

It is said that they were troop transport tunnels built during the Three Kingdoms period under Cao Cao, though some believe they were constructed during the Song and Yuan dynasties. Discovered in 1938, the tunnels come in three forms: one-way passages, parallel double passages, and upper and lower two-level passages. The branching passages crisscross and interconnect, showcasing an enormous engineering feat. Parts of the tunnels are made of brick, while others feature brick-wood or wood-earth structures. The tunnel height ranges from 1.45 to 2.10 meters, and the width from 0.6 to 1.2 meters, with uneven surfaces along the bottom. They represent the most well-preserved ancient underground military architecture in China and hold significant value for the study of ancient Chinese military technology.