SHIJIAZHUANG, April 24 (Xinhua) -- An ancient iron bell has been discovered in north China's Hebei Province.

The bell, weighing about 500 kg, was found by a villager on a mountain in Cixian County. Archaeologists said it dates back to more than 420 years.

The dark brown bell is about 123 cm tall. It belonged to a local temple.

"Bells have a long history in China, but this one is particularly rare because of its weight," said Wang Zhiqiang, head of the local cultural relic protection institute. "It is valuable for research about the religious culture and traditions in the south of Hebei."