In pics: ancient city of Sigiriya in Sri Lanka

Tourists visit the ancient city of Sigiriya, some 170 km northeast of Colombo, capital of Sri Lanka, on March 8, 2016. The ruins of the capital built by the parricidal King Kassapa I (AD477-495) lie on the steep slopes and at the summit of a granite peak standing some 180m high. A series of galleries and staircases emerging from the mouth of a gigantic lion contructed of bricks and plaster provide access to the site. The ancient city of Sigiriya was inscribed as a world heritage site by United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organizations (UNESCO) in 1982. (Xinhua/Li Peng)