For more than a decade, bell ringing has been a traditional New Year ceremony at the city's Longhua Temple.

Each year, only 108 people are allowed to strike a huge bronze bell in the temple to ring out the 108 mundane worries which the Buddhist lore says afflict the mankind, with the final strike ending exactly at midnight.

But last night, 21 more strikes were added to the 108 reverberations by 21 people born on the first day of the last "snake year" (1989), as the number represents good wishes for a peaceful and blessed 21st century.

"Bell ringing is a common New Year ritual in Chinese temples," said Zhang Guoming, the office director of the Longhua Temple.

The two-meter-high, three-ton bronze bell was cast in 1370, during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). It bears the names of donors and the patterns of clouds, lotus and cranes.

In the past, when Shanghai was still a quiet country town, the toll of the Longhua bell could reach for miles, and people traveling on the Huangpu River could tell the hours by the chimes.

Today, high-rise buildings and traffic noise have drowned the tolling of the bell, making it barely audible a few blocks away. Close up, however, it's still deafening.

The bell is housed in a three-story tower, which was rebuilt in 1894. On New Year's Eve, the narrow stairway leading to the bell was crowded with the 108 bell-ringers, each of whom had paid 318 yuan to strike the bell.

Pulling back and releasing the log suspended at the side of the bell, the hallow of the tower resonates with the deep booming sound of the bronze.

In the past, it was the monks to do the bell ringing. About 10 years ago, visitors, Chinese or foreigners, were allowed to strike the bell as a tourism program, explained Zhang.

Since then, thousands of people flock to the temple on New Year's Eve to participate in the jovial festivity. Many go there just to experience the excitement, watch monks chant scriptures, make their own prayers, and watch lion dances and other performances.

Opposite the Bell Tower is the Drum Tower, which has just been silent for more than 30 years after the old drum was damaged during the "cultural revolution(1966-1976)." Last week, a new drum was installed inside and it was claimed to be the largest in China.

The bell survived because of its big size. "It is hung on a thick support beam. Any attempt to shift it could cause the beam to split and the whole tower would collapse immediately, burying the people who want to remove the bell," said Zhang.

After the bell-ringing ceremony, visitors went to the temple canteen to eat the "year-crossing noodles."

"The temple bell is open to visitors all year round, and people can ring it for a fee of 10 yuan," Zhang said.

(Eastday.com 01/01/2001)