Workers doing printing work at Dege Parkhang in the Garze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Sichuan Province, southwest China on 10 April, 2010. (Xinhua)

Journey to Dege Parkhang, an ancient scripture printing house, involves a hair-raising drive over the 5,000-meter-altitude Trola Pass, but it is worth the trouble if you are interested in Tibetan history, religion, literature and art.

The printing house, inside the famous Gengqing Monastery in the Garze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Sichuan Province, southwest China, was built in 1729. It houses more than 290,000 unique wooden printing blocks stored in racks, with over 500 million Tibetan words concerning aspects from history to science.

Photo taken on 10 April, 2010 shows wooden blocks at Dege Parkhang in the Garze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Sichuan Province, southwest China. (Xinhua)

The collection is believed to be the largest in number and richest in content of its kind in China and perhaps across the world.

Workers doing printing work at Dege Parkhang in the Garze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Sichuan Province, southwest China on 10 April, 2010. (Xinhua)

Until today, workers at the printing house are still using the same printing techniques as their ancestors did hundreds of years ago. Wood must be made into pieces of 100cm long, 10cm wide and 4cm thick and stored for a winter before they are used.

Workers doing printing work at Dege Parkhang in the Garze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Sichuan Province, southwest China on 10 April, 2010. (Xinhua)

A skilled worker generally needs 10 days to carve a single wooden block. It took 100 calligraphers three years and more than 500 carvers five years to finish the renowned Buddhist texts Kangyur.

A worker doing printing work at Dege Parkhang in the Garze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Sichuan Province, southwest China on 10 April, 2010. (Xinhua)

The printing house is a three-floor building that occupies an area of 3,000 square meters. It seems not to be a grand project in modern eyes, but remember it was built more than 200 years ago on one of the planet's highest lands.

Photo taken on 10 April, 2010 shows Dege Parkhang in the Garze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Sichuan Province, southwest China. (Xinhua)

Architectures and wall paintings there are also something to admire for visitors.

Dege Parkhang is under state protection. A tunnel is currently under construction to make the tripe to the printing house easier.

Photos by Phurbu Tashi, a Tibetan photographer with Xinhua News Agency's Lhasa office. He has traveled to almost every corner of Tibet over the past 10 years.