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Ruins of six ancient cities were discovered buried each on top of another in a space 3-12 meters deep beneath the modern city of Kaifeng, ancient capital of central China's Henan Province.

Among the cities were three state capitals, two provincial capitals and a big town, according to an announcement released after 20 years' excavation and study.

Except for the deepest-buried and little understood Daliang City, capital of the State of Wei during the Warring States period (770-256 B.C.), the other five cities are all relatively well known and documented. The discovery proves true an old legend that claimed "cities are piled beneath ground of Kaifeng."

Archaeological data show that the five most famous of the cities were all basically located in the same area, with Kaifeng City of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911AD) at the top and Bianzhou Town of the Tang Dynasty (618-907AD) at the bottom.

The most splendid, as well as the biggest, among them is the Eastern Capital City of the Northern Song Dynasty (960-1127), which claimed a population of over million then, according to scientists.

Daliang City was erected in 364 B.C. as new capital of Wei State, one expert said.

During the following 2200 years, rulers in the area set up Bianzhou City during the Tang Dynasty, Eastern Capital City during the Northern Song Dynasty, Bianjing City in the Jin Dynasty (1115-1234), and Kaifeng City in Ming(1368-1644) and Qing periods. These ancient cities were buried one upon another through cycles of war and floods and rebuilding.