The Ancient Book Exhibition kicked off?on June 14?at China's National Library in Beijing. About three hundred rare manuscripts are on display to the public.

A book written in 399 B.C. is proved to be the most popular. It has the longest history among all the?books on display.

Lin Shitian, the vice curator of China's National Library said, "The book reflects the history of Buddhism back then at the Dunhuang Grottos. It was discovered by Wang Yuanlu, who gave the book to the local officials as a gift."

The Ancient Book Exhibition is the largest of its kind since the founding of the People's Republic of China. The 300 rare pieces were collected by nearly one hundred organizations around the country. Experts say many of the books are the only existing copies and are of high historical value.

The exhibition runs?untill July the 3rd, free of charge.

(CCTV.com June 16, 2009)