Chinese authorities will publish a series of culture books about a leading Tibetan Buddhism monastery in northwestern Gansu Province this year to mark its 300th founding anniversary.

The culture series on the Labrang Monastery in Xiahe County of the Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Gannan, will be composed of 10 books.

Topics include history, religion, folk customs and natural scenery, said Gonpo Namgyal, head of the Xiahe Culture and Sports Bureau, Thursday.

"It will be the first such publication about the monastery," he said. "Information compiling started in late 2007 and the books are expected to be published in June."

The Labrang Monsastery, built in 1709, is one of the six leading monasteries of Tibetan Buddhism. It is home to more than 1,000 lamas and is another center of the Gelug Sect, also known as the Yellow Sect, of Tibetan Buddhism outside the Tibet Autonomous Region.

"The series of books is a commemoration to the monastery and also a promotion of the Labrang culture," Gonpo Namgyal said.

(Xinhua News Agency March 19, 2009)