Chinese Brass/Bronze/Copper? Dome Shaped Bell?, Beautiful, Handpainted.

This is a beautiful piece. I picked it up last friday at a Buzzards Bay thrift shop. It was love at first sight. The color, the painting, the sound when touched.
It had a tag that read, ' Gong ', and I guess it is some kind of a bell,( now minus the clapper ).
It looks very old, and judging by the design I'd guess that it was made in China.
It's 7 inches in diameter, 4 inches high.
Do you think it is a bell, and from China?

Thanks for taking the time to look,
Tony.