Tibetan block printing craftsmanship has a history of nearly 300 years. [Photo/NEWSSC.ORG]

Ancient Tibetan calligraphy, boutique Thangka painting works, and Maisu traditional wood carving art wares are presented to visitors in the Derge Scripture Printing Lamasery with the charm of Khampa Tibetan culture.

Located in Derge County of Garze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in Sichuan Province, the Derge Sutra Printing Temple was built in 1729, taking an area of around 5,000 square meters with the building complex covering some 3,000 square meters. It was enlisted as national key cultural relic protection site by the State Council in 1996.

The Derge lamasery has also been known as "encyclopedia of Tibetan culture", "a shining cultural pearl in Tibetan inhabited areas", and "treasury house under the foot of snow mountain."

Even today, people could see the well-preserved over 270,000 printing plates and the traditional Tibetan block printing craftsmanship of nearly 300 years.

There are many precious cultural relics, ranging from the old traditional Tibetan architectures to the woodcut printing blocks, from the beautiful murals to fine statues.