277-yr-old bell discovered in China

A 277-year-old iron bell weighing 200 kgs has been found in China's north Hebei Province, authorities said today.

The bell, which is two centimetres thick and one metre tall, has a diameter of 80 centimetres at the bottom, the local cultural relics department said.

Eight characters wishing for a long life for the empire and the crown prince are cast into the upper section while the lower section has an over 300-character inscription indicating the history of the bell and when it was made, state-run Xinhua news agency reported.

Cultural relics experts in Cixian County said that bells have a long history in China. They were once used to convey messages and later became musical instruments and tools for sacrificial activities.

The new finding will help understand religion, customs, and the development of the foundry industry in the southern part of Hebei.