Penba Tsering (C), deputy director of Tibet Autonomous Regional Ancient Books Protection Center and Nyishar (L), an expert of Ancient Books Protection Work Committee communicate matters about protection of ancient books with a monk in Khangmar County of Shigatse City, Tibet. [Photo/Xinhua]

During week-long investigation, experts on census work of ancient books from three levels of Tibet autonomous region, prefecture (city), and county will carry out project evaluation on collection condition improvement of ancient books, and form a project implementation program in remote temples located at four border counties of Shigatse city.

"Tibet reserves the largest amount of Tibetan ancient books in China, but due to various reasons, at present, many ancient books, especially a lot of rare books and the only existing copies face imminent danger of being lost, which are urgent to get effective protection," according to Penba Tsering, deputy director of Tibet Autonomous Regional Ancient Books Protection Center.

"Considering the reality of poor conditions of some units for collecting ancient books in some remote areas, we intended to not only carry out the census, but help these units as much as possible to improve collection condition of ancient books, so as to ensure effective protection of the precious ancient books," said Penba Tsering.

After a long journey, investigation group finally got to Lhuntsok Monastery located at Memo village of Zagor town in Tingryi county, Shigatse. They visited scripture hall of the monastery and done general survey of those ancient literature kept in it.

"Two years ago, experts came to our monastery and registered every ancient documents we preserved. What's more, they also taught us many ways to protect these ancient books. I really appreciate what they have done for the improvement of the collection environment of ancient books." said Champa, a monk of the Lhuntsok Monastery.

It's reported that units for collecting ancient books in Tibet are mainly monasteries and temples, amounting to more than 1,000 units and covering 74 counties in two prefectures and five cities of Tibet Autonomous Region. At present, 65 percent of the census work of ancient documents have been completed since the general survey was carried out in 2010.