Dagu Iron Bell exhibit draws visitors to Tianjin

A special exhibit at the Dagukou Fort Ruins Museum in Tianjin commemorating the 20th anniversary of the return of the Dagu Iron Bell, a national first-grade cultural relic, has drawn visitors from across China.

The bell was seized by British forces during the Eight-Nation Alliance's invasion in 1900 and taken to Portsmouth, where it remained for over a century. It was finally returned to China on 20 July 2005, following joint efforts by cultural authorities and communities in the UK and China.

This bell's journey symbolizes China's growing ability to protect its cultural heritage, said Han Yu, a guide at the museum who has developed a strong connection with the artifact during her four years at the site.

During a recent museum guide competition in Tianjin, Han moved many participants with the story of the bell's century-long journey home.