An aftershock measuring 6.4 on the Richter scale jolted Qingchuan County in southwest China's Sichuan Province on Sunday afternoon.

The strongest aftershock since the 8.0-magnitude quake of May 12 was felt in many parts of the province, including the provincial capital Chengdu.

The China National Seismic Network has located the epicenter of the aftershock at 32.6 degrees north latitude and 105.4 degrees east longitude.

Xinhua reporter Hai Mingwei said a plastic water bottle, placed upside down on the floor standing air conditioner of his home in downtown Chengdu, fell in the aftershock. "Though thousands of aftershocks were felt since May 12, this is the first time the bottle fell," he said.

After the devastating quake, many locals have put bottles in their house as a warning for aftershocks.

The aftershock was said to have lasted for about a minute, starting at around 4:24 PM. Many high-rises in Chengdu rocked slightly.

A Beijinger said he felt the aftershock, too, from his 25th floor office.

Netizens in Xi'an and Baoji cities of northwestern Shaanxi Province said they, too, felt the tremor.

(Xinhua News Agency May 25, 2008)