Four ancient cities dating back about 2,200 years have been discovered in southwest China's Sichuan province, local authorities said Tuesday.

According to the Sichuan provincial cultural relics and archaeology research institute, the four ancient cities existed between the Western Han (206 BC-AD 24) and the Eastern Jin (317-420) dynasties.

Excavation began in 2014, discovering walls, gates, wells, and tombs at the sites of the ancient cities.

A selection of cultural relics including bronzeware, terracotta figurines, and eaves tiles were unearthed during the excavation.

Based on historical records, Wuyang, one of the discovered ancient cities, was the earliest tea trade market in China.