A Beijing temple has auctioned its New Year bell ringing rights for as high as 50,000 yuan, or US$6,000. 

Jietai Temple, located in the west of Beijing, has a long-standing tradition of ringing its ancient bell at year-end to welcome in the New Year.

But this time at midnight on December 31st, it will not be the monks in the temple who will ring the bell, but a representative from a local hotel who has bought the bell-ringing right for 50,000 yuan.

The temple says it will use the money to restore some ancient relics in the temple. As to why the hotel will spend huge money to ring the bell, its management says they will give the auspicious bell-ringing chance to a lucky customer who checks in on December 31st.

(CRIENGLISH.com December 23, 2004)