Derge Parkhang Printing House
德格印经院
The largest woodblock printing house in the Tibetan regions. It holds hundreds of thousands of printing blocks and still prints by hand, earning it the title 'Treasure House of Snowland Culture.'
The Derge Parkhang Printing House is located in Gengqing Town, Derge County. It was founded in 1729, in the 7th year of the Yongzheng Emperor, and built under the direction of the Derge chieftain. It is the largest and best-preserved woodblock printing house in the Tibetan regions, with more than 200,000 printing blocks covering Buddhist scriptures, history, medicine, astronomy, and calendrical science. It is listed as a National Key Cultural Relic Protection Unit, and its Tibetan woodblock printing technique is a national intangible cultural heritage. Visitors can watch craftsmen apply ink, print paper, and hang it to dry, and Tibetan worshippers circumambulate the exterior. Admission depends on the site, the printing house may close for lunch, and photography is prohibited indoors.
Opening hours
About 09:00–12:00 and 14:30–18:00 (confirm on site)