SHIJIAZHUANG - Archaeologists have discovered six kilns that date back to the Sui Dynasty (AD 581-618) and Tang Dynasty (AD 618-907) in the city of Xingtai in North China's Hebei province.

Excavation work has revealed the tops of three of the kilns, which were discovered in Neiqiu county, according to Wang Huimin, an archaeologist from the Cultural Relics Institute of Hebei.

Wang said tools and large amounts of glazed china were also found near the kilns.

Many ancient kilns and related relics have been discovered in the county since the early 1950s.

Kiln technology first emerged in China during the late South-North Dynasty (AD 420-581), with usage peaking during the Tang Dynasty. The fine white china produced in the kilns was kept in royal palaces and exported to more than 10 countries and regions.