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Hechi brothers challenge own Guinness record

By (chinadaily.com.cn)
2017-02-27

The Book of Guinness World Record's may be making a trip to Hechi, Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, after construction began on a 6.6-meter diameter bronze drum, challenging the world's largest.

Masterminds behind the project are Wei Qichu and Wei Qishen, brothers from Huanjiang Maonan autonomous county, who are both successors of Zhuang bronze drum-casting, an intangible cultural heritage in Guangxi.

The brothers already have the Guinness record for largest bronze drum after making one measuring 4.2 meters in diameter on Jan 16 in 2016.

Hechi brothers challenge own Guinness record

A 4.2-meter diameter bronze drum is unveiled by the Wei brothers on Jan 16, 2016, a Guinness World Record. [Photo/hcwang.cn]

With the support of Weishi Antique-style Zhuang Bronze Drum-casting Factory, the new drum is set to smash the old record, at 6.6 meters in diameter, a length of 2.8 meters and weighing in at 40 tons.

Born into a family of blacksmiths, the Wei brothers have been in the drum-making business for over 20 years, mastering their casting skills. Together they have made more than 100,000 bronze drums in different sizes over the past decade, which have been exported to Europe and Southeast Asia.

The drum, according to the brothers, will take more than six months to make with help of 26 workers.

Hechi brothers challenge own Guinness record

The team from Weishi Antique-style Zhuang Bronze Drum-casting Factory attends the opening ceremony of the start of the construction of a new world record bronze drum. [Photo/hcwang.cn]

Hechi brothers challenge own Guinness record

Bronze drums are a traditional percussion instrument of ethnic groups in southwest of China, played as an accompaniment to dance performances. [Photo/hcwang.cn]

 

Hechi is located in the northwestern part of Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region and the southern foothills of the Yungui Plateau.