Centuries-old Sutra printing house under repairs in Lhasa

LHASA - A centuries-old Sutra printing house in Lhasa, capital of Tibet autonomous region in southwest China, will be closed for a year as it undergoes repairs.

This is the first large-scale renovation project to focus on the wooden structure, which is located in the Meru Monastery compound on Beijing Road in the heart of Lhasa.

The printing house, which still uses the woodblock printing process to produce Buddhist Sutras, was built more than 400 years ago, during the days of the 5th Dalai Lama. Its wooden beams, pillars and walls have sustained damage over the years.

The main building has been closed for four weeks, said Kalsang Dawa, one of the printers.

The repair project, which will cost around 30 million yuan (about $4.7 million), was jointly financed by the regional treasury, the ethnic and religious affairs authority and cultural heritage administration.

Following the renovation the building will be much more structurally sound while retaining its original features. All workers have been recruited from the region and will use traditional Tibetan techniques.

The printing house has a large collection of Tibetan Buddhist teachings including the Kangyur and the Tangyur, as well as the woodblocks.