China 1997-20 Historic Relics of Macao - First Day Cover (FDC)

Historic Relics of Macao

Technical details:

Scott No: 2812-15
Serial number: 1997-20
Values in set: 4
Date of issue: November 11,1997
Designers: Ren Guoen
Size: 50*30mm
Perforation: 12.5
Sheet composition: 42
Printing process: offset

SN: (4-1)
Title: Ma Kok Temple in Macao
Value: 50 fen

SN: (4-2)
Title: Lin Fong Temple in Macao
Value: 100 fen

SN: (4-3)
Title: St. Paul's Ruins in Macao
Value: 150 fen

SN: (4-4)
Title: Guia Lighthouse in Macao
Value: 200 fen


Background info

Macao is located in the South China Sea and west of the mouth of the Pearl River, occupying an area of 24 square kilometers with a population of about 450,000.

Macao is the territory of China from ancient times to the present, called Haojing in ancient times, At the 36th year during the reign of Emperor Jiajing in Ming Dynasty (1557), Macao was occupied by the Portuguese. It was the earliest port opened for trade between China and foreign countries and the earliest place where the Oriental and Western cultures encountered by the sea route. Owing to its unique geographical location and historical background, Macao has witnessed vicissitudes in the more than 400 years since its opening to the foreigners. Pursuant to the Joint Declaration of the Chinese Government and the Portuguese Government on the Question of Macao signed in 1987, China will resume the exercise of sovereignty over Macao on December 20, 1999.

Demonstrating the features of both an old and modern city, Macao today is a tourism and industrial city with vigor and potential for economic development. It is a port of free trade, and since the 1980s has become one of the few regions in Asia which recorded fastest economic development. Industry, tourist gambling and construction are the three pillar industries in Macao's economy.

Macao, with beautiful natural scenery , rich cultural relics and ancient sites, ideal climate and unique features of islands in South China, is a mecca for international tourism. Mage Temple, Zen Temple of Universal Relief (Avalokitesvara Temple) and Lianfeng Temple are the three ancient temples in Macao. Other tourist attractions include the Dasanba Memorial Arch, Songshan Lighthouse, Siwangyang Chapel, White Pigeon Nestle Park and Xiwan scenic zones at the southern tip of the peninsula

China 1997-18 The Temple of Heaven - First Day Cover (FDC)

The Temple of Heaven

Technical details:

Scott No: 2801-4
Serial number: 1997-18
Values in set: 4
Date of issue: October 16,1997
Designers: Ma Gang; Wang Huming
Size: 50*30mm
Perforation: 12
Sheet composition: 16
Printing process: offset


SN: (4-1)
Title: Hall of Prayer for Bumper Harvests
Value: 50 fen

SN: (4-2)
Title: Imperial Vault of Heaven
Value: 50 fen

SN: (4-3)
Title: Circular Mound Altar
Value: 150 fen

SN: (4-4)
Title: Fasting Palace
Value: 150 fen


Background info

The Temple of Heaven, located in the southeastern part of Beijing and built during the reign of Emperor Yongle of Ming Dynasty, is the largest temple-altar structure still kept intact. The Temple of Heaven, also called the Temple of Heaven and Earth, was renamed the Temple of Heaven in 1533, and was the place where emperors of Ming and Qing dynasties worshipped and offered sacrifice to the heaven, and prayed for bumper harvest. Different from the golden tiles and red walls of the Forbidden City, blue is the dominant colour of the Temple of Heaven, symbolizing that all halls and temples were integrated with the sky.

The Temple of Heaven has two tiers of walls, forming the inner temple and the outer temple. The walls of the temple take a square shape in the southern sections and a circular shape in the northern sections, symbolizing, that the heaven is round and the earth is square. Its main buildings include two groups, with the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvest, the Gate of Prayer for Good Harvest and the Hall of Imperial Delight as one group, and the Imperial Vault of Heaven and the Altar of Heaven forming the other. The Red Stairway Bridge links up the two. The well-known Echo Wall is the brick-built wall surrounding the Imperial Vault of Heaven and the Three Echo Stone is located right inside the Imperial Vault of Heaven. When one stands at the centre of the Altar of Heaven and speaks to whatever direction, loud and clear echoes can be heard, this interesting phenomenon is regarded as a miracle of the Temple of Heaven. The entire Structure of the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvest is built of wood, gold-gilt and colourfully painted, its design is complicated, elegant and scientific, the structure has a rich cultural connotation and has reached an impeccable level in its design and construction.

China 1997-6 Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region - First Day Cover (FDC)

50th Anniversary of the Founding of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region

Technical details:

Scott No: 2760-62
Serial number: 1997-6
Values in set: 3
Date of issue: Ma Lian ; Dan Sen
Designers: May 1,1997
Size:
30*50mm for Value 1
50*30mm for Value 2 and 3
Perforation: 11.5
Sheet composition: 32

SN: (3-1)
Title: Celebration
Value: 50 fen
Size: 30*50mm

SN: (3-2)
Title: Unity
Value: 50 fen
Size: 50*30mm

SN: (3-3)
Title: Advance
Value: 200 fen
Size: 50*30mm


Background info

If you unfold a map of the People's Republic of China, you will see a stretch of land in the shape of a galloping horse extending in northern China from northeast to southwest and covering northeast, north and northwest China. This is the vast Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. Covering and area of 1.183 million square kilometres, the region borders Mongolia and Russia in the north, and neighbours eight provinces. Inner Mongolia has dense forests, lush pasture land and fertile farmland and rich mineral resources. It is known to "have forests in the west, farmland in the south, pasture land in the north and mineral resources everywhere" and praised as the "lush southern-type farmlands north of the Great Wall".

The vast pasture land is a sea of flowers and also the native place of songs and dances. The annual Nadam is a fair which embodies the Mongolian traditional customs and is the crystallization of history and modern culture. The fair features world famous Mongolian dances and traditional sports event, such as wrestling, horse racing and archery. Warm-hearted and hospitable Mongolian people greet guests and friends from all quarters with white Hada and wines.

Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region was founded on May 1, 1947, China's earliest minority autonomous region, inhabited by Mongolian, Han, Manchurian, Hui, Daur and Oroqen people . Under the leadership of the Communist Party of China, the people of various nationalities have been living in unity and harmony and jointly achieved glorious achievements in the past 50 years

China 1995-5 Owls - First Day Cover (FDC)

Owls

Technical details:

Scott No: 2559-62
Serial number: 1995-5
Values in set: 4
Date of issue: March 22, 1995
Designers: Ma Gang
Size: 30*40mm
Perforation: 11.5
Sheet composition: 40
Printing process: gravure


SN: (4-1)
Title: Eagle Owl
Value: 10 fen

SN: (4-2)
Title: Long-eared Owl
Value: 20 fen

SN: (4-3)
Title: Snowy Owl
Value: 50 fen

SN: (4-4)
Title: Cross Owl
Value: 100 fen


Background info

Owl is the general name for 130 types of birds from three families, and most of them are nocturnal birds of prey.

When the owl flies, its wings just like that of a butterfly without any noise because the wing's surface is similar to velvet. Owl's feather in light and dark brown color, and the size of the female owl is larger than the male one. An owls usually builds a nest in a building, a tree hole or an abandoned nest of other birds, and some even makes its nest on the ground or in a cave. Owls mainly eat insects birds small mammals or fish and most of them live on mice. An owl has sharp ears and eyes, and its face can help reflect the sound to its ears during a travel at night so as to determine the direction of a hunting target.

China has 26 out of the world's 132 owls. About 120 of them are typical owls with large prominent eyes and round tails as well as ear plume. Owls' size are varied from 13 to 15 centimeters to 70 centimeters or even larger. They live across the world except the South Pole, and most of them like to live in forest areas.

The ancient China's literary works recorded the descriptions of owls.

Owl's folk names as "night cat" and "cat's head eagle" derive from its habits and appearance. The Chinese government already has listed the bird as one of the wild life for the state second-class protection.

China 1992-2 Storks - First Day Cover (FDC)

Storks

Technical details:

Scott No: 2380-81
Serial number: 1992-2
Values in set: 2
Date of issue: February 20, 1992
Designers: Yin Huili
Size: 31*52mm
Perforation: 11.5
Sheet composition: 40
Printing process: offset


SN: (2-1)
Title: Ciconia Nigra
Value: 20 fen

SN: (2-2)
Title: Ciconia Ciconia
Value: 160 fen


Background info

Black stork is found across most of China. It is a migratory bird. In summer they live in the north and fly to the south when winter comes. Its body is about 1 meter long. It is black in upper-body, with purple-green metal color, white in under-breast and belly, and red in beak and legs. They nest mostly in the gaps of cliff . They like living in group, and find foods in swamp or marsh. They lay 2-6 eggs per year. White stork is larger in its body, about 1.2 meters long. Its plumage is white with black in the edge of wings. It has a long black beak and legs. White storks are divided into two species: East Asia stork and West Asia stork. In summer, East Asia species breed in the mountain region in the northeast of China, and spend winter in Fujian, Guangdong and Taiwan. And West Asia species breed in the west of Xinjiang, and spend winter in India and Nepal

China J146 80th Anniv. of Birth of Tao Zhu - First Day Cover (FDC)

80th Anniv. of Birth of Tao Zhu

Technical details:

Scott No: 2134-35
Serial number: J146
Values in set: 2
Date of issue: January 16, 1988
Denomination: 28 fen
Designers: Liu Xiangping
Size of stamps: 40*30mm
Perforation: 11*11.5
Sheet composition: 50(5*10)
Printing process: Engraving and photogravure
Printing House: Beijing Postage Stamp Printing Works

SN: (2-1)
Title: Portrait of Tao Zhu
Value: 8 fen

SN: (2-2)
Title: A Selfless Man
Value: 20 fen