A 388-year-old tombstone was discovered in the city of Xingtai, North China's Hebei province, according to the local cultural relics protection institute.

The tombstone, dating back to the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), was discovered in Dongsanzhao village.

The tombstone measures 85 cm both in length and width, and 20 cm in thickness. A 2,736-character inscription on the tombstone depicts the history of a family surnamed Bai in the Ming Dynasty.

Yao Yajie, a local history expert, said the well-preserved tombstone provides important material for the study of the politics, economy and culture in the late Ming Dynasty.