Ancient Ruins of Palmyra

　　    Palmyra, also known as "Tadmur," is an important ancient city in central Syria, situated 215 kilometers northeast of Damascus and 120 kilometers southwest of the Euphrates River. The ancient ruins of Palmyra were inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1980. Spread across 6 square kilometers of ruins are the magnificent remains from the reign of Queen Zenobia, including towers, ramparts, tombs, and temples. Most unforgettable is the awe-inspiring Temple of Bel that stands tall on the horizon. The shining sunlight reflecting off the limestone ruins blends with the temple, seemingly emanating an irresistible power.

　　    Another masterpiece is the 1.2-kilometer-long colonnaded street that runs east to west through the city, dating back to the 2nd to 3rd centuries AD. The main road is 11 meters wide, flanked by 6-meter-wide side paths. Though the original grandeur of the ancient city is no longer fully intact, walking through it feels like stepping into a time tunnel. If you listen quietly, the towering stone columns and every rock scattered across the desert seem to whisper the rise and fall of an ancient civilization. Although the 1,600-meter-long colonnade is now incomplete, it still reflects the grandeur of the ancient city of Palmyra.