Gansu to issue stamps on Tibetan Buddhism monastery

　　BEIJING, July 20 (Xinhuanet) -- Special stamps about the Labrang Monastery in Gansu Province, one of the six greatest monasteries of the Gelug Sect of Tibetan Buddhism, is to be issued on Aug. 2.

　　The one-set special stamps, to be issued by the State Post Bureau, include two pieces, with the main patterns on the stamps being the Grand Sutra Hall, the leading place for religious activities of the monastery, and the "Gongtang Stupa."

　　Photo taken on Aug. 9, 2005 shows the Labrang Monastery in Xiahe County, northwest China's Gansu Province. Special stamps about the Labrang Monastery in Gansu Province, one of the six greatest monasteries of the Gelug Sect of Tibetan Buddhism, is to be issued on Aug. 2. (Xinhua Photo)

　　The two pieces together are worth at 2.4 yuan (0.35 U.S. dollars) and were designed by famous Chinese stamp designer Jiang Weijie.

　　Art performance, a stamp exhibition on the ancient monastery and tourism promotion will also be held on the day of the stamp issue, according to a press conference by the Information Office of the Gansu Provincial Government.

　　The monastery, located in Xiahe County, northwest China‘s Gansu, was built in 1709. It is home to the largest population of monks outside Tibet Autonomous Region.

　　With the biggest number of sutras, the monastery is also one of the largest Buddhist monastic institutes.

　　China has issued stamps featuring tourist attractions in Gansu before, including the world-famous Dunhuang Mogao Grottoes, the Jiayu Pass Section of the Great Wall, the Maijishan Grottoes and Kongtong Mountain.