SHIJIAZHUANG, July 7 (Xinhua) -- A stone tablet dating back to the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) has been discovered in north China's Hebei Province, local authorities said Saturday.

The tablet is estimated to have a history of 275 years. Found in a river course in Neiqiu County, the tablet is 170 cm tall, 61.5 cm wide and 18 cm thick.

The inscriptions on the back of the tablet describe the construction of a local Taoist temple, according to Li Hengkun, a local expert.

Li said the tablet provides important materials for the study of Taoist culture in Hebei's central and southern parts during the Qing Dynasty.