Harbin man knows for whom the bells toll
Zhang Shuxin holds a group of bells he collected at his home in Harbin, capital of Northeast China's Heilongjiang province. (Photo by Zhang Qingyun/for chinadaily.com.cn)
Over the past 22 years, 68-year-old collector Zhang Shuxin has collected more than 3,500 bells from all over the world.
"I still remember buying the first bell at an arts and crafts shop in Chaoyang, Liaoning province in 1997," said Zhang, who hails from Harbin, capital of Northeast China's Heilongjiang province. "It was made of copper and I was attracted by its pretty shape."
From then on, he began collecting different bells. Whenever he goes to a new city, Zhang looks for new bells in every corner.
Among all his bells, the most expensive one is a high-end ceramic bell made in Germany, which costs him more than 3,000 yuan ($434).
The largest is about 60 centimeters high, and the smallest is only as big as a walnut.
He spent lots of time carefully maintaining the bells and creating photo files for each one.
"I will continue my collection and research the history of bells," he said. "I hope to hold an exhibition in the future, providing a venue for those who share this hobby."
Zhang Shuxin holds a group of bells he collected at his home in Harbin, capital of Northeast China's Heilongjiang province. (Photo byZhang Qingyun/for chinadaily.com.cn)
