Postcard China

Prestamped cover from China

Role of Jing in Peking Opera

Name: Role of Jing in Peking Opera
Date of Issue: 23 February 2008
Denominations:
(6-1) 80 fen: Xu Yanzhao
(6-2) 1.20 yuan: Bao Zheng
(6-3) 1.20 yuan: Lian Po
(6-4) 1.20 yuan: Zhang Fei
(6-5) 1.20 yuan: Cao Cao
(6-6) 1.20 yuan: Yang Yansi

The roles on the Chinese opera stage fall into four categories: Sheng(Male Role), Dan(Female Role), Jing(Painted Face Male) and Chou(Comedy Actor or Clown). These roles have the natural features of age and sex, as well as social status, and are artificially exaggerated by makeup, costume and gestures.

Jing refers to painted-face roles, known popularly as Hualian. The different colors and designs on the faces represent males with different characteristics. Some are bold and vigorous and some are sinister, ruthless, crude and rash. The voice is loud and clear, and the movements are exaggerated.

The Jing role originates from the Fujing role of the Song Zaju. The Jing roles gradually increased in number, and became further divided into several groups, according to the different social positions and characters of the roles.

Dahualian with a fully painted face is known as Zheng Jing. The roles represent men of high social standing and good behavior, often court ministers. Zheng Jing sings in vigorous and sturdy tones.

Erhualian, also known as Fu Jing, has powerful bodily movements and sturdy singing voices. Some roles in this group represent rascally ministers, recognizable by their white faces.

Wu'er Hualian is also known as Wu Jing. This role is more physical than most of the others, with little singing or reciting.

The 50th Anniversary of the Founding of Ningxia Autonomous Region

Name: The 50th Anniversary of the Founding of Ningxia Autonomous Region
Date of Issue: 23 September 2008
Denominations:
80 Fen (3-1): Wind Power
1.20 Yuan (3-2): Oasis in Desert
1.20 Yuan (3-2): Home of Harmony

The 50th Anniversary of University of Science and Technology of China

Name: The 50th Anniversary of University of Science and Technology of China
Date of Issue: 20 September 2008
Denominations:
The University of Science and Technology of China (USTC; simplified Chinese: 中国科学技术大学; traditional Chinese: 中國科學技術大學; pinyin: Zhōngguó Kēxué Jìshù Dàxué) is a national research university in Hefei, China. The university is regarded as one of the most prestigious universities in China. It was founded in Beijing by the Chinese Academy of Sciences(CAS) in September of 1958. It was moved to Hefei city in Anhui province in the beginning of 1970 during the Cultural Revolution.

USTC was founded by the Chinese Academy of Sciences(CAS) in 1958 in response to the urgent need for the national economy, defense construction, and education in science and technology. It has been featured by its competence on scientific and technological research and expended into humanities and management with a strong scientific and engineering emphasis. USTC has 9 schools, 23 departments, the Special Class for the Gifted Young, the Experimental Class for the Teaching Reform, the Graduate Schools (Hefei, Shanghai, Suzhou), School of Management (Beijing), the Software School, School of Network Education, and School of Continuing Education.

Olympic Handover to London

Name: Olympic Handover to London
Date of Issue: 24 August 2008
Denominations:1.20 Yaun x 4

1.20 Yuan (4-1): National Stadium, Beijing
The National Stadium, also known as "Bird's Nest", located in the southern part of the core area of the Olympic Green, is the main venue for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad. Covering a land area of 21 hectares and a total floor space of 258,000 square meters, the stadium offers 91,000 seats, including 11,000 temporary ones. It hosted the opening and closing ceremonies for the 2008 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games as well as the track-and-field events and soccer finals. After the Games, the stadium will serve as a public venue for people to extensively participate in athletic and recreational activities, and will become a landmark sports structure.

1.20 Yuan (4-2): Corner Tower, Forbidden City, Beijing
Corner Towers are part of the Forbidden City in Beijing and functioned as defense facilities for the Imperial Palace along with the city wall, gate towers and moat. The four corner towers placed at the four corners of the Forbidden City are of the same structure, consisting of a triple-eave roof, nine main beams, 18 columns, and 72 ridgepoles. They are characterized by complex appearance and exquisitely decorated vermilion walls and yellow tiles. The four corner towers of the Forbidden City carry forward the features of ancient Chinese timber-framed architecture, namely flexibility and variation, and combine functions with decorative effect, demonstrating the superb craftsmanship of ancient Chinese artisans.

1.20 Yuan (4-3): London Eye
The London Eye, also known as the Millennium Wheel, located on the bank of the River Thames, is a 135-meter-high Ferris wheel and a beautiful sight in the skyline of London. The London Eye, erected and opened to the public in 2000 to celebrate the millennium, has now become a landmark and the most popular tourist attraction in London. Tourists can sit high up in the sky above downtown London and take a magnificent view of the city while listening to the narrative about it.

1.20 Yuan (4-4): Tower of London
The Tower of London, located by the Tower Hill on the north bank of the River Thames, is a Norman castle of over nine centuries old. The Tower functioned in history as a fortress, an arsenal, a treasury, a mint, a royal palace, an execution ground, an astronomical observatory, a refuge and a prison (particularly for high0ranking or royal prisoners). It has now become a renowned tourist resort of the UK. The museum in the Tower houses ancient weapons, crowns and royal jewelry. The Tower of London was listed among the World Cultural Heritage sites in 1988.

India-China Joint Issue

Name: India-China Joint Issue
Date of Issue: 2008
Denominations: 1.20 Yaun x 2

Power Grid Construction

Name: Power Grid Construction
Date of Issue:24 February 2009
Denominations:1,20 x 3

The 100 Anniversary of Bo Yibo's Birth

Name: The 100 Anniversary of Bo Yibo's Birth
Date of Issue:15 January 2009
Denominations:1,20 x 2

Year of OX - Special Cover

Name: Year of OX
Date of Issue:5 March 2009
Denominations:1.20 Yaun

Beijing Olympic 2008

Name: Beijing Olympic 2008
Denominations:80 Each

Space Exploration

Name: Space Exploration
Denominations: 80 x 2

Lily Miniaturesheet FDC

Name: Lily
Date of Issue: 5 March, 2003
Denominations:8 Yaun

The picture on the mini sheet is Lilium Leucanthum.

Lily FDC

Name: Lily
Date of Issue: 5 March, 2003
Denominations:0.60, 0.80, 0.80, 2 Yaun


The picture on the stamps are Lilium Taliense, Lilium Lankongense, Lilium Distichum andLilium Lophophorum.

Beginning of the Lunar New Year FDC

Name: Beginning of the Lunar New Year
Date of Issue: 12 February 2002
Denominations: 2.80 yaun x 2

The first day of Lunar Ren Wu Year, is the traditional chinese festival-the spring festival. With auspicious fortune in Ren Wu Year, everything is to be successful.


The Xin Si Year stamp on the vover is canceled at 24:00 hours on 11 February, 2002 and the Ren Wu Year stamp is canceled at 00:00 hours on 12 February, 2002 to mark the new year.

Thanks to Ian morrison for nice FDC

Chinese Birds FDC

Name: Chinese Birds
Date of Issue:1 January, 2004
Denominations:6 Yaun

Bird depicted on the stamp is "yunnan Nuthatch"
Thanks to Ian Morrison for beautiful FDC

Chinese Birds FDC

Name: Chinese Birds
Date of Issue:1 January, 2004
Denominations:5 Yaun

Bird depicted on the stamp is "yellow-bellied Tit (Parus Nenustulus)"
Thanks to Ian Morrison for beautiful FDC

50 years of Chinese television industry

Name: 50th Anniversary of Chinese television industry
Date of Issue: 2nd September 2008
Denominations: 1.20 Yaun

China Central Television is the national television station of the people's Republic of China. It started a trial telecast on May 1958, and commenced formal broadcasting on September 2 the same year.

Scenery on the Qiandao Lake FDC

Name: Scenery on the Qiandao Lake
Date of Issue: 16 April 2008
Denominations: 1.20 Yaun x 2

Thanks to Ian Morrison for nice FDCs

Famous Ancient Chinese General Qi Jiguang FDC

Name: Famous Ancient Chinese General Qi Jiguang
Date of Issue: 19 July 2008
Denominations:1.20 Yaun x 2

Qi Jiguang, a native of Dengzhou, Shandong, was a brilliant militarist of Ming Dynasty, who was particularly revered for his victory in expelling Japanese aggressors. He trained and managed his troops with strict disciplines and distinct award and penalty regulations.