ALEPPO, Syria, April 18 (Xinhua) -- In the narrow, vaulted alleys of Aleppo's ancient markets, the sound of hammers striking stone echoes once again, a quiet sign of life returning to one of the Middle East's oldest trading hubs after years of war.

Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1986, Aleppo's historic souqs had long been a vibrant hub of trade along the Silk Road.

Once the largest covered market in the world, this 13-km labyrinth through the old city was devastated during some of the fiercest fighting of Syria's civil war.

A massive fire in 2012 swept through large sections of the souqs, destroying hundreds of shops and collapsing centuries-old structures, while years of shelling and fighting left p

arts of the historic marketplace in ruins, forcing traders to abandon shops that had been passed down for generations.

Today, parts of the souqs are gradually coming back to life. Workers restore arches blackened by fire and rebuild stone walls using traditional materials, while shopkeepers cautiously reopen their businesses in alleys that had long lain silent.

"The old city is our soul, our pride, our civilization and our history," Mahmoud Hazkan, a soap maker standing inside his recently restored shop, where he sells Aleppo's famed laurel soap, told Xinhua. "Whether it is the Umayyad Mosque, the old markets or the Citadel of Aleppo, it is

everything to us."

For locals like Hazkan, the return is about more than commerce.

Before the civil war, the souqs bustled with tourists and traders from around the world. "There were tour groups from everywhere," Hazkan said. "Now, we need stability," he added, noting that ongoing regional tensions continue to weigh on tourism and economic recovery.

Across Syria, officials say restoring heritage sites has become a national priority after more than a decade of conflict, which left many of the country's historic landmarks damaged.

"The whole world is looking at Syria and wants to see where the country will stand on the issue of its heritage after 14 years of war," Masoud Badawi, director-general of antiquities and museums, told Xinhua.

Syria is home to six UNESCO World Heritage sites, all of which were placed on the organization's "in danger" list during the conflict. Authorities say they are now working, with international support, to restore these sites and eventually remove them from that designation.

The revival of the ancient souqs is a testament to these nationwide restoration efforts.

"The most severe damage among cities listed on the World Heritage List is in the Old City of Aleppo, particularly the souqs, which were almost completely destroyed," Badawi said.

He added that authorities have completed comprehensive studies for the full restoration of the markets, with reconstruction expected to proceed in phases. "This process takes time, but ultimately, the Old City of Aleppo will return to what it once was," he said.

"Commercially and in terms of economic life, these markets have largely recovered. Traders are reopening their shops, and people are returning," said Ghaith Makansi, an engineer involved in the restoration project.

Still, challenges persist. Officials say one of the biggest hurdles is securing sufficient funding, as large-scale restoration projects require significant financial resources, alongside the need to clear land mines and unexploded ordnance from damaged sites.

Yet, Syrians are determined to carry on with the restoration work. As Hazkan, the soap seller, said, "This is more than restoring an old city or a historic site. It is a declaration to the world that Syria is trying to rebuild the brilliance of its past."  ■