Jin Guangying knew she had been wounded in a gun fight 64 years ago during the Japanese invasion of China, but everyone, including her mother, had assumed the bullet that wounded her was not lodged in her head, Xinhua news agency said.

After six decades of severe headaches, recent X-rays finally revealed the bullet had remained in her brain, prompting doctors on May 3 to surgically remove it, the report said.

The impoverished farmer had to borrow money to get the x-rays, but "the hospital refunded the cost of Jin's treatment after the bullet was confirmed to be a 'piece of heritage' from the Japanese invasion," the report said.

The 77-year-old retired farmer was wounded when she delivered food to her father who was fighting as a guerrilla behind the frontline during Japan's advance, it said.

She was reportedly in good condition following the operation, Xinhua said.

Jin's family now plans to consult with lawyers and seek compensation from the Japanese government and a public apology for the bullet wound, it said.

"The bullet has been taken out, however the pain and hurt felt by my mother will never be eliminated," Xinhua quoted Jin's daughter Wang Zhengping as saying.