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World of Stamps A small stamp tells us a big world! Through these beautiful stamps with unique design, we can learn more on and behind them. Society and economy, culture and development, history and future, life and love......You will find endless enlightenment. Let stamps tell you lots of stories!
The lily, Lilium belonging to Liliaceae, perennial bulbiferous herbs distributed in temperate areas of the northern hemisphere. Among 115 species of the genus found in the world , 55 are endemic to China. Its underground bulb forms by many fleshy scaled imbricated closely, hence lily is called "Baihe" in Chinese (which means a hundred scales packed together). It is regarded as a symbol of unity and friendship. During greeting seasons, people present lily flowers to each other as gifts, expressing their wish of "happiness and harmony in a family for a hundred years". Their large, gorgeous flowers are often funnelform or campanulate in shape, usually white, sometimes red, purple, pink, yellow or greenish in colour. Lily flowers have been famous and precious, but popular since ancient times for their graceful shape and elegant style. It has been chosen to be the national flower in many countries. Lily (Special stamps)
Tian'anmen Gate--- Special-use Stamp The Tian'anmen Gate, situated in the center of Beijing, was built in 1417 during the Ming Dynasty. It was the front gate of the Ming and Wing imperial palace, where emperors used to issue edicts. In the past century, the Tian'anmen Gate has witnessed many significant events. On 1 October 1949, at the Tian'anmen Gate, Chairman Mao Zedong proclaimed the founding of the People's Republic of China. Since then, the Tian'anmen Gate has become a symbol of the New China, and a place all the Chinese people yearn to see.
Commemoration of the Qinghai-Tibet Railway Construction---Commemorative Stamps The building of the Qinghai-Tibet Railway started on 29th June 2001. The 1142 kilometre-long railway extends between Golmud in Qinghai Province and Lhasa in Tibet Autonomous Region. Its sections over 4,400m above sea level total 960km, and the highest section, which crosses the Tanggula Mountain, is at 5,072m above sea level. The railway passes 550km of ever-frozen land. The construction of the railway, the highest and longest one on plateau in the world , is planned to be finished in six years. The Qinghai-Tibet Railway is a representative project in China's implementation of its strategic decision to develop China's west at the beginning of the 21st century.The significant project is a magnificent task in the world history of railway construction and has drawn the attention of the world .
China 2003: The 16th Asia International Stamp Exhibition --- Commemorative Stamp • China 2003: the 16th Asia International Stamp Exhibition is held in Mianyang, a beautiful city in Sichuan Province, from November 20 to 24, 2003, in commemoration of the 125th anniversary of the issuance of the Large Dragon stamps of China. It is a large-scale philatelic event held in China following the successful '96 Asia International Stamp Exhibition and '99 World Philatelic Exhibition. This exhibition, under the auspices of the Federation of Inter Asian Philately, has participants from more than 20 countries and regions of Asia and Oceania, and over 1,200 frames of contesting and non-contesting exhibits. The exhibition will strengthen the friendly cooperation and exchange among philatelists from different countries, and will play a positive role in promoting the overall development of China's post service and philately.
Leshan Giant Buddha, the largest carved stone Buddha of the world, is situated in the west cliff of Lingyun Mountain of Leshan, Sichuan Province. According to historical records, a notable monk named Haitong started its construction in 713 AD (the first year of the reign of Kaiyuan) of the Tang Dynasty. The work took 90 years.When it was new, the statue was covered with gold and colourful painting, with a thirteen-story pavilion to shield it. The pavilion was first called Giant Buddha Pavilion, then renamed Tianning Pavilion in the Song Dynasty, and eventually fell apart in the late Ming Dynasty. The Giant Buddha is located where the Minjiang, Qingyijiang and Daduhe rivers converge. Carved in the cliff, it is 71 metres high, its head reaching the top of the mountain and its feet resting on the riverside. Its instep is spacious enough for more than 100 people. In the viewers' eyes, the stately, imposing, magnificent statue is a mountain, and the mountain a statue of Buddha. In 1996, Leshan Giant Buddha, which has witnessed 1,200 years of vicissitudes, was included into the World Cultural Heritage List. Leshan Giant Buddha --- Special stamp
Tibetan Antelopes --- Special Stamps The Tibetan Antelopes, of the Genus Pantholops Hodgsan, Bavidae, ARTIODACTYLA, is a rare species found on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, ranging mainly in Tibet, Xinjiang and Qinghai of China. Tibetan antelopes inhabit on the plateau steppe 3500-5200 meters high above sea level, and usually move in groups ranging from a handful to over a thousand. The males and females live separately in the season of breeding. The male has long horns of as long as 0.6 meters, so it is also called long-horn antelope. The rich undercoat of the Tibetan antelope consists of soft and fine wool, often in the colour of yellow. Their population used to be more than 100,000, but has been reduced sharply over the past tow decades. It is now the Grade I Wild Animal under Key National Protection of China, and has been included as a species under protection into Appendices I to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora.
The peafowl, of genus peafowl, family Phasiamidae, is a non-migrant bird. There are only two species of it in the world. The green ones (Pavo muticus) are found in western and southern Yunnan of China and Southeast Asia, and the blue ones (Pavo cristanis) inhabit India and Sri Lanka. The white peafowl is the albino aberrant form of the blue peafowl. Peafowl dwell in subtropical grasslands and jungles less than 2000 metres above sea level. They usually move in flocks of 3 or 5 and feed on grass seeds, fruits and insects. The male bird is over two metres in length, in iridescent blue and green, with a crest and tail coverts. The coverts make a splendid fan when spread, and are like a beautiful curtain when closed. The female does not have tail coverts and is pale brown on the back. Peafowl are precious birds that people love as a symbol of auspiciousness. Peafowl
China is home to one of the most ancient civilizations in the world. The industrious, courageous and intelligent Chinese nation bred numerous outstanding scientists in its millennia-long history. The diagnosing method of pulse-feeling created by Bian Que of the Warring State Period is still used today in China. Note on Mathematics in Nine Sections by Liu Hui of Wei and Jin dynasties is a masterpiece in the world history of mathematics. The water-driven astronomical clock tower was the most accurate astronomical time-counting system in the Northern Song Dynasty. Exploitation of the Works of Nature by Song Yingxing, a Ming-dynasty scientist, is an encyclopedic work on technologies in ancient China. Ancient Chinese Scientist (Set IV) (Commemorative stamps)
Meteorite shower, known as a "shower of stones" in ancient times, is a phenomenon that occurs when a meteoroid passes through the earth's atmosphere at high speed, producing extreme heat due to friction, and falling in fragments towards the earth. China has the earliest records and research on meteorite showers. The meteorite shower that took place at 15:00 on 8 March 1976 over the northern suburbs of Jilin City, Yongji County, and the outskirts of Jiaohe City, Jilin Province, was recognized as the largest in recorded history, covering as approximately 500-square-kilometer area. Altogether 138 meteorites were collected, weighing 2,700 kilograms in total. Meteorite No.1, weighting 1,770 kg, was the largest meteorite from this shower, and the largest ever found in the world. The Meteorite Shower over Jilin --- Special Stamps
The Successful Flight of China's 1st Manned Spaceship --- Stamps On 16th October 2003, an indigenous LM-2F launch vehicle successfully sent China's first manned Shenzhou spaceship into a projected orbit from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center. After conducing various planned scientific experiments in space, the first astronaut of China returned to the ground safely when the return module landed in a predetermined area of Inner Mongolia. As a historic breakthrough, this magnificent feat has realized the Chinese people's dream of spaceflight, reflected Chinese nation's strength of space science and technology, and had a great significance for China's future.
In Commemoration of the Opening of the Project To Divert Water from the South to the North --- Commemorative Stamps • The projects, the tremendous strategic infrastructure to alleviate the water shortage in the north of China, have a great bearing on the sustainable economic and social development of the country in the future and long-term interests of generations. After 50 years f efforts in surveying, planning, designing, research and appraisal, it has been decided that 3 diversion channels be constructed in the east, middle and west to divert water from the lower, middle and upper reaches of the Yangtze Yellow, Huaihe and Haihe rivers flowing from west to east to realize a proper allocation of water resources across the country. The projects were officially started on 27 December 2002 and will be completed by 2050
The Three Gorges Project on the Yangtze River, Generating Electricity --- Special stamps The Three Gorges Project on the Yangtze River has been the largest water control and hydropower project in the world so far. By preventing floods, generating electricity, providing water transport and supplying water, the Three Gorges Project will bring economic and social benefits and accelerate China's modernization construction. After ten years of construction, the project has achieved its second-phase targets, storing water on the left-bank dam, with successful trial double-lane navigation through five stages of ship locks, and with the first generating sets starting operation and being connected to the grid. This is a milestone in the construction of the Three Gorges Project.
The Hukou Waterfall , the only cataract on the Yellow River, is located in the bordering area between Jixian County of Shanxi Province and Yichuan County of Shannxi Province. At this point, the bed of the river abruptly turns narrow, forming a shape like a pot mouth (the Chinese for which is "hukou"), hence its name. The water falls over a precipice more than 30 metres deep, which is a spectacular scene. The Yellow River symbolizes the courage and perseverance of the Chinese nation. The Chinese people are advancing with enormous enthusiasm towards their bright future, just like the surging torrent of the Yellow River. The words "Advancing with the time with indomitable will" are printed in pure gold foil on the souvenir sheet. Hukou Waterfall on the Yellow River (Special stamp)
Established in 1989, the 21-member Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) is a main forum for economic cooperation in the Asia Pacific region. It holds an annual Economic Leaders' Meeting preceded by a Ministerial Meeting. China became a member of APEC in 1991 and plays hosts to APEC Meeting in the year 2001. The 9th AEC Economic Leaders' Meeting takes place in Shanghai on 20-21 October. The theme of the 2001 APEC Meetings is Meeting New Challenges in the New Century: Achieving Common Prosperity through Participation and Cooperation. APEC China 2001---Commemorative Stamp
China submitted its application for the resumption of its GATT contracing party status on July 10, 1986 and the negotiations started thereafter. After 15 years' efforts, China finally became a WTO Member. The accession of China marks the integration of China into the multilateral trading system and will have positive and far-reaching effects on China's reform and opening up as well as on the development of world economy and trade. The Protocol on the Accession of China to the Marrakech Agreement Establishing the World Organization (WTO) was signed in Doha, Qatar on November 11, 2001. The WTO, located in Geneva, Switzerland , was established on January 1, 1995. Its predecessor was the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT).China was one of the 23 original contracting parties of GATT. The Accession of China to the World Trade Organization
World AIDS Day --- Commemorative Stamp AIDS, or acquired immune deficiency syndrome, is an infectious disease caused by virus, resulting in loss of immune response to various diseases and eventually in death of the patient. Ever since the first case was diagnosed in 1981, AIDS has spread across the whole world, seriously threatening the health and lives of the people. To facilitate control and final elimination of AIDS, the World Health Organization designated 1st December each year the "World AIDS DAY".
The Qinghai Lake, in northeast Qinghai Province, is surrounded by the Datong, Sun and Moon, and South mountains. It formed during the middle of the Cenozoic Era, and was known as West Sea in the ancient times. Covering an area of 4,600 square kilometers, it is the largest saltwater lake in China, 3,200m high above sea level and 29m deep. The lake teems with Gymnocipris przewalskii. The vast grassland by the lake is good for grazing. Among the six isles in the lake, the Isle of Birds is a habitat of migratory birds. In warm springs, it becomes a "paradise" for over 100,000 birds, including barehead geese and great black-headed gulls. It is one of the nature reserves for birds in China. The Qinghai Lake (Special stamps)
Ertan Hydropower Plant The Ertan Hydropower Plant, located by the Yalong River in Panzhihua, an emerging industrial city in southern Sichuan Province, is China's largest hydropower project in the 20th Century, with 6 turbine units of 550 MW each, a total installed capacity of 3300 MW, and a yearly power generation of 17 GWH. Started in 1991 and completed at the end of 1999, the project adopted world advanced technologies and equipments, and set a national record of installation rate for hydropower projects. The project not only promoted the economic development of Sichuan and Chongqing, but also paved the way for the development of the entire West of China, especially the southwestern areas.
Huangguoshu Waterfall is the centre of the Huangguoshu scenic area. Located on the Baishui River, it is the largest of its kind in China and one of the most magnificent waterfalls in the world. It is 81 metres wide, with a drop of 74 metres. Like the Milky Way descending from heaven, the Huangguoshu Waterfall rushes into the Xiniu pond. Its roaring sound can be heard several kilometres away. The cave behind the Waterfall is 134 metres long. Still intact inside the cave is an age-old carving of four Chinese characters, meaning "snow reflecting cloud". Watching sunset from inside the cave offers a mirage-like view. Huangguoshu Waterfalls---Special Stamps
The Danxia Mountain, located to the south of Renhua County in Guangdong Province, is known as one of the Most Famous Mountains of Guangdong, along with the Luofu, Siqiao, and Dinghu mountains. It got its name from its red sandy rock that gives it a brilliant colour like that of red clouds ("Danxia" in Chinese means "red cloud"). The mountain is a typical example of the "Danxia Landform" in geography. The Baozhu, Hailuo and Zhanglao peaks rise high in a forest of precipitous peaks, and the Jinjiang River meanders around them. The water of the river is so clear that one can see the colourful pebbles o the riverbed. Among the scenic attractions in the mountain are the rocks Haishan Gate, Yixiantian, Sky Ladder, and caves and rocks of various shapes. The Danxia Mountain, beautiful with its red rock and green waters, was put on UNESCO"s first list of World Geological Parks in February 2004. The Danxia Mountain --- Special Stamps
Plain Sailing --- Special-use Stamp • The Chinese Phrase for "plain sailing", literally meaning riding a boat at full sail with a favorable wind all the way, is used to express success without any setback. The phrase originated from two lines of a poem by the Song-dynasty poet Yang Wanli: "Tomorrow morning we'll part our ways at Duliang, Sailing home with a favorable wind." People of later generations have used it as a wish for a pleasant journey or success in career and life. "Plain sailing" on the individualized stamp expresses the user's best wishes for his or her relatives and friends.
At night, the moon hangs high in the sky, showering its silvery light on the ground. It is the most significant and idyllic moment for reunited families to appreciate the moon. The full moon will remind you of your family reunions even though you are far away from home, hence it is also called "Festival of Reunion". It originated in the remote past, got popular in the Han and Tang dynasties, and has been observed up to today, carrying with it enchanting legends and immortal poems and proverbs. The moon cake, symbolizing happiness and reunion, is the most typical food during the Mid-autumn Festival. Mid-autumn Festival is one of the most important traditional festivals to the Chinese nations. It falls on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month, just in the middle of autumn, when the skies are clear, winds crisp and farmers share the happiness of harvest. Mid-autumn Festival (Special stamps)
The traditional Dragon Boat Festival of China was on June 25 this year. Dragon boat race, eating zongzi and hanging out five-coloured thread are age-long activities to celebrate the holiday. Studies indicate that the Dragon Boat Festival originated in primitive people's worships of tribal totems. Legend has it that the holiday was initiated in memory of Qu Yuan, a stateman and patriolic poet of the Kingdom of Chu during the Warring States period. Qu Yuan was exiled by the king because of slandering by evil officiais. He drowned himself in the Miluo River on the 5th day of the 5th lunar month to express his devotion to his country. Deeply grieved, the local people threw many zongzi dumplings into the river so that the fish would not eat him and they tried to save him racing to his throwing spot by boat. Making Zongzi and dragon boat race have since become major activities to mark the festival. Duan Wu Festival---Special Stamps
The Yangliuqinig New Year Picture, a well known folk woodblock print for the lunar New Year in North China, originated during the late Ming Dynasty in Yangliuqing Country to the west of Tianjin, hence the name. It has a popular appeal and draws on elements from various areas such as folktales, figures from traditional operas, landscapes, birds and flowers. Yangliuqing Woodprint New Year Pictures (Special stamps) It typically features large carp and chubby babies that are drawn in a figurative style to represent blessings and happiness. Combining block chromatography and hand painting, Yangliuqing New Year Pictures, with their well-rounded composition and vivid colours, are very popular among the people. They are used for decorating rooms during festivals, embodying hopes for a happy life.
The Taohuawu Woodprint New Year Picture first appeared in the late Ming Dynasty and became popular during the reign of emperors Yongzheng and Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty. It is one of the most widespread folk New Year picture school in southern China, featuring woodcut process printing and coloring. In its early stage, the pictures of ladies, landscapes and flowers usually adopted the traditional composition and were of a graceful style. Pictures of the style of copperplate engraving emerged in the middle period of the Qing Dynasty under European influence. Later on the subject matters tented to be close to people's daily life and work. Most of the pictures express wishes for good fortune, or show opera stories, current events and customs, which the folks are fond of. The pictures are decorative, and popular for their techniques of exaggeration, vivid and bright colors, rich and lively contents. Taohuawu Woodprint New Year Pictures --- Special Stamps
The Chou(Clown) Roles in Jingju(Peking Opera)---Special Stamps Jingju is the most popular and influential opera in China. It has carried forward long-term traditions of Chinese operas and has been appreciated as the national opera. The roles in Jingju are divided into four categories: sheng, dan, jing and chou. The chou roles stand fundamentally for humorous, quick-witted, or vivacious characters. This type of roles can be recognized by the patch of white in various shapes painted around the eyes and nose. Sometimes these patches are outlined in black or in other colors, hence the name "partly painted face" or "painted face in three colors". The chou roles play different characters from noble officials to ordinary people. The chou roles leave a profound impression among audiences with their vivid and funny actions.
It is acknowledged that this class of musical instruments, with a lot of varieties, appeared quite late in the history of musical instruments. Their history in China dates back to the Tang Dynasty, when Yazheng and Xiqin appeared, and the Song Dynasty, when Maweihuqin appeared. With the improvement and increase in variety of stringed instruments through more than a thousand years of development and evolvement, they became indispensable master ad accompany instruments in traditional Chinese operas and music. With rich expressiveness and outstanding imitating features, they display unique charm in solos and are popular among the Chinese people. Chinese National Musical Stringed Instruments A stringed instrument produces tones through the vibrating strings, while the bow is drawn across them, together with the reconating body.
Traditional Sports of Ethnic Minorities of China --- Special stamps Traditional sports of Chinese ethnic minorities came from production and life. With rich contents, various forms and distinctive features, the long-standing sports are very popular among the Chinese ethnic minorities, showing strong ethnic colours and vitality. The traditional sports of Chinese ethnic minorities help enhance the physical quality of the people, improving understanding between different ethnic groups, develop the splendid traditional cultures of the ethnic minorities, and inspire the Chinese people with the national spirit. Today, there are over 100 major traditional competitive and performance events among the 55 ethnic minorities.
At the 112th plenary Session of the International Olympic Committee held in Moscow on 13th July 2001, Beijing was voted to be the host city for the 2008 Olympic Games. This stamp is issued to mark the occasion. In Commemoration of Beijing's Successful Bid for Hosting 2008 Olympic Games
The 21st Universiade was held in Beijing from 22nd August to 1st September 2001. It was the first large-scale, international-level games in the new century and the first of its kind hosted by China. The 21st Universiade had 12 sports and 168 events. About 7000 sportsmen abd sportswomen , and officials from 160 countries and regions participated, representing the largest scale and highest level of the Universiade in its history. They full demonstrated Chinese college students' youthful Vigor, and their love for friendship and peace. The 21st Universiade---Commemorative Stamps
Kung Fu and Tae Kwon Do are traditional folk sports of China and South Korea respectly. Both sports are for bodybuilding and fighting. The graceful and agile movements of kicking, striking, fighting and catching not only have high attacking and self-defense capabilities, but also are regarded as exquisite body arts and effective fit-keeping exercises. Kung Fu and Tae Kwon Do, popular among the peoples of the two countries and spread widely, have a history dating back afar and remain precious cultural heritages of the world sports history. Kung Fu and Tae Kwon Do --- Joint Issue with South Korea (Special stamps)
The Ninth National Games of the People's Republic of China, the first large-scale, comprehensive national games in the new century and new millennium, were held from November 11 to 25,2001 in Guangzhou. There were 30 events, including 345 contests. More than 12,300 sportsmen from provinces, autonomous regions, municipalities directly under the central government, the PLA and various associations attended the preliminaries and finals with lofty sportsmanship and high spirits. The event fully displayed the great sports achievements of the nation, and symbolized a great stride the Chinese Nation had made into the 21st Century as a giant in the East. The Ninth National Games of the People's Republic of China---Commemorative Stamps
Yue Fei, a Famous Ancient General --- Commemorative Stamps Yue Fei (1103 - 1142), alias Pengju, was a famous general of the Southern Song Dynasty. Born in a farmer's family in Tangyin, Xiangzhou Prefecture (today's Henan Province), he was diligent and eager to learn when he was young. Being adept in Kung Fu skills, he volunteered to join the army in the first year of Jingkang's Reign. It is said that before he left home, his mother tattooed "Loyalty to the Country" on his back, which was the principle he followed till the end of his life. As he was concerned about his men and set a personal example before them, his troops were highly disciplined and valiant and skillful in battle. During the war against the invading Jin army, he gained one after another victories and recovered lost territories, winning high esteem among the army and the people, and even arousing the admiration of the enemy. Later he was framed by the treacherous minister Qin Hui and executed in Lin'an (today's Hangzhou) on trumped-up charges. He has been and will always be respected and admired by posterity for his unyielding integrity.
A Tale of Xu Xian and the White Snake The tragic love story of Xu Xian and the White Snake is a fairy tale widely circulated among the Chinese people. According to the story, the White Snake, in the appearance of a beautiful lady, met a yong man called Xu Xian by the Broken Bridge by the West Lake. They got married and ran a pharmacy in Zhenjiang. Their happy marital life was disturbed several times by Monk Fa Hai from the Jinshan Temple, who finally seperated the couple by confining the White Snake under the Leifeng Pagoda using wizardry. The story of the White Snake originated from a reported discovery of a huge boa. The plot has the same source as "The Three Pagadas by the West Lake" written in the Southern Song Dynasty. The story has various versions from different times and areas, and has developed in long years into a popular, beautiful folk tale
The Story of Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai, a Folk Legend --- Special stamps The story of Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai has been a household love story in China for more than 1000 years. The heroine Zhu Yingtai, disguised as a man, becomes bosom friends with Liang Shanbo, a classmate of hers for 3 years. Before returning home, Yingtai implies to shanbo that she will be his wife. Knowing that Yingtai is woman, the delighted Shanbo hurries to her home, only to find that her family has betrothed her to someone else against her will. Under the pressure of the patriarchal clan rules and feudal ethics, they die for love and return into a pair of butterflies. The moving tragic legend extols pure love and freedom of love. First appearing in the early Tang Dynasty, the story was put on the stage in the Song and Yuan dynasties, and plays based on the story was widely performed during the Ming and Wing dynasties. The story has been handed down to this day in manifold forms.
These strange stories by Pu Songling are rich in imagination. The language, both tasteful and vulgar, is vivid and free and easy. While talking about ghosts, these stories criticize the harsh ways of the society and eulogize the noble moral characters in order to educate the people. Of them, the masterpiece" Taoist Priest from Laoshan" tells a person who loves ease and hates works. Wishing to succeed by luck, he comes to Lanshan to learn skills but fails. Reading the story people do not know whether to laugh or cry. But from it people draw inspirations. In the past several hundred years, the book has spread widely. Strange Stories from a Chinese Studio---One of China' s Famous Classical Literary Works(First Group)------Special Stamps
Strange Stories from a Chinese Studio---One of China's Famous Classical Literary Works(2nd group) Pu Songling, a writer of the Qing Dynasty, created a series of vivid, amazing characters in his work, Strange Stories from a Chinese Studio, a collection of short stories. Pianpian, the fairy who can turn a green leaf into a chicken of fish and make winter coat with white clouds, and the poem-therapy in Bai Qiulian, the fish spirit's case give the readers endless reveries. The fantastic stories of ghosts and fox spirits are beautiful and fascinating, demonstrating their unique artistic style and charm. Strange Stories from a Chinese Studio has been widely read for over 300 years and well known both in China and abroad. It had a great influence on later short stories in classical Chinese.
Strange Stories from a Chinese Studio, One of China's Famous Classical Literary Works (Third Set) --- Special Stamps Strange Stories from a Chinese Studio, by Pu Songling, a writer of the Qing Dynasty, is a collection of about 500 supernatural short stories. Many of the stories are about love and marriage, such as "Xiang Yu", "Huanniang" and "Ah Xiu". The love stories are among the best in the collection, praising true love of young people while lashing out at the feudal ethics. With a graceful style of writing, detailed narration and description, the stories of flower and fox spirits reflect the reality of life, and contain the author's indignation and hopes. They represent a peak of ancient Chinese short stories.
State Post Bureau issued a set of four special stamps under the title"Strange Stories from a Chinese Studio,One of China's Famous Classical Literary Works(First Group)"on Aprial 21,2001. Their combined face value is five yuan and titles are "Ying Ning","A Bao","Mask of an Evildoer"and "Stealing Peach".At eht same time,a souvenir sheet was issued under the title"Taoist Priest from Laoshan"with a face value of eight yuan. Strange Stories from a Chinese Studio---One of China' s Famous Classical Literary Works(First Group)------Special Stamps
