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The
Great Bell Temple is located on the northern
western of Beijing city, No. 31 Western Section of the North 3rd Ring
Road (Beisanhuan Xilu). Built in 1733, the temple
houses the largest bell in China. In addition, the
temple also has a small ancient bell museum and some Chinese ancient
bells displayed.
The biggest
bell known as China's "King of Bells", which
is 6.87 meters high, 3.3
meters in diameter, 0.22 meter thick and 46.5 tons in weight. It is
hangings in the bell tower at the rear of the compound. The tower is
16.7 meters high with a square base, a circular upper structure and
windows on four sides. It is said the bronze bell was cast during the
Yongle period (1403-1424) of the Ming Dynasty, so the bell is called
Yongle Big Bell.
According to the test by the Chinese
Academy of Sciences, the Yongle Bell's loud
and clear sound reaches up to 120 decibels and can be heard 50
kilometers away in the depth of night. Music experts of the Chinese
Acoustics Institute have found its tone pure, deep and melodious with a
sprightly rhythm. Its frequency ranges from 22 to 800 hertz.
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