CHINA - LIGHTHOUSES

Chinese Shaped Card

 

 

A beautiful postcard in shape of a lighthouse.

 

 

 

A nice stamp.

Received from: Sirius7777777

CHINA - OTHERS

traditional Chinese theatre - actress Shimin

Theatre of China has a long and complex history. There are references to theatrical entertainments in China as early as the Shang Dynasty; they often involved happiness, mimes, and acrobatic displays. Peking opera or Beijing opera is a form of traditional Chinese theatre which combines music, vocal performance, mime, dance and acrobatics. It arose in the late 18th century and became fully developed and recognized by the mid-19th century.

Beautiful stamps.

Received from: Ivy_Rong

Beauty of China

The South Recalled Fair is the Southern shore

Whose scenery I used to adore

At sunrise the riverside flowers bloom redder than fire

In spring the green river waves grow as blue as sapphire

Which I could not but admire.

 

 

 

 

Beautiful stamps (I'd like a stamp tag).

Received from: Antintin

 

Chinese symbol of peace and luck

Nice stamps.

Received from: elevenlee

 

Dream of the Red Chamber

Dream of the Red Chamber, composed by Cao Xueqin, is one of China's Four Great Classical Novels. It was composed in the middle of the 18th century during the Qing Dynasty. It is considered to be a masterpiece of Chinese vernacular literature and is generally acknowledged to be a pinnacle of Chinese fiction. Red Chamber is believed to be semi-autobiographical, mirroring the rise and decay of author Cao Xueqin's own family and, by extension, of the Qing Dynasty. As the author details in the first chapter, it is intended to be a memorial to the women he knew in his youth: friends, relatives and servants. The novel is remarkable not only for its huge cast of characters and psychological scope, but also for its precise and detailed observation of the life and social structures typical of 18th-century Chinese aristocracy.

 

 

 

Beautiful stamps. (3+ stamps tag)

Received from: Yuhuaabc

Gateway on Fengning Road

The decorated gateway on Fengning Road (now Renmin Road) of the Guangzhou National Products Fair in January 1931. A nice stamp. Received from: Labrador

 

 

 

 

Blue and White Porcelain

"Blue and white wares" (literally "Blue flowers") designate white pottery and porcelain decorated under the glaze with a blue pigment, generally cobalt oxide. The decoration is commonly applied by hand, by stencilling or by transfer-printing, though other methods of application have also been used. The technique of cobalt blue decorations seems to have come from the Middle-East in the 9th century through decorative experimentation on white ware. Cobalt blue pigments were excavated from local mines in central Iran from the 9th century, and then were exported as a raw material to China. The blue-and-white technique was fully developed in China with porcelain technology in the 14th century. On some occasions, Chinese blue and white wares also incorporated Islamic designs, as in the case of some Mamluk brass works which were converted into blue and white Chinese porcelain designs.

Beautiful stamps.

Received from: wollfman

 

 

 

 

Red lanterns

Hanging red lanterns is one of Chinese traditional cultures. It is very popular in China right now. Red lanterns represent harmony (round shape), booming in business like fire (red color). It also represents happiness, vitality, illustration and wealth. This is the reason that Chinese like to hang red lanterns in parties or festivals, such as Chinese New Year, lantern festivals, etc. Furthermore, Chinese red lanterns are also hanged in some important building or shops, etc as the symbols. Chinese red lanterns usually have some beautiful pictures or Chinese auspicious words on the surface. All pictures such as fishes, dragons, peony flowers, etc or auspicious words printed on the surface stand for good luck or wealth. In addition, adding some tassels attached to the red lanterns enhance their beauty and good luck. Long time ago, Lanterns were used to as the lights only. Later, Chinese used red lanterns as the symbol of protections and protections after some wild animal only attacked those villagers without hanging red lanterns and never attacked those villagers hanging red lanterns according to one tale.

Beautiful stamps.

Received from: meimeitoto

 

 

 

Paper cutting

Chinese Paper Cutting or Jianzhi (剪纸) is the first type of papercutting design, since paper was invented by Cai Lun in the Eastern Han Dynasty in China. The art form later spread to other parts of the world with different regions adopting their own cultural styles. Because the cut outs are also used to decorate doors and windows, they are sometimes referred to "chuāng huā" (窗花), meaning Window Flower. There are basic cut outs, that are a single image. And there are symmetrical designs that are usually created by some folding over a proportioned crease, and then cutting some shape. When unfolded, it forms a symmetrical design. Chinese paper cuttings are normally symmetrical.

Today, papercuttings are chiefly decorative. They ornament walls, windows, doors, columns, mirrors, lamps and lanterns in homes and are also used on presents or are given as gifts themselves. Entrances decorated with paper cut outs are supposed to bring good luck.

Beautiful stamps.

Received from: linkexin and Vince

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



CHINA - CITYVIEWS

The Long Corridor in the Summer Palace, Beijing

The Long Corridor is a covered walkway in the Summer Palace in Beijing, China. It is famous for its length (728 m) in conjunction with its rich painted decoration (more than 14,000 paintings). The Long Corridor was first built in 1750, when the Qianlong Emperor commissioned work to convert the area into an imperial garden. The corridor was constructed so that the emperor's mother could enjoy a walk through the gardens protected from the elements. Like most of the Summer Palace, the Long Corridor was severely damaged by fire which Anglo-French allied forces laid in 1860 during the Second Opium War. It was rebuilt in 1886. As a part of the Summer Palace, the Long Corridor was included on the UNESCO World Heritage List in December, 1998. The paintings depict episodes from Chinese classical literature, folk tales, both historical and legendary figures, and famous Chinese buildings and landscapes along with flowers, birds, fish, and insects. In each of the four pavilions, there are two major paintings over the two doorways on the eastern and western sides.

 

Beautiful stamps.

Received from: TManjaro1

 

 

Another postcard showing The Long Corridor.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Beautiful stamps.

Received from: fotapeter

Zhouzhuang

Zhouzhuang is a town in Jiangsu province, China. Zhouzhuang is a popular tourist destination. It is one of the most famous water townships in China, noted for its profound cultural background, the well preserved ancient residential houses and the elegant watery views. It has been called the "Venice of the East".

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Beautiful stamps.

Received from: truly_ctr

Yueyang Tower

 

Yueyang Tower is an ancient Chinese tower in Yueyang, Hunan Province, on the shore of Lake Dongting. Alongside the Pavilion of Prince Teng and Yellow Crane Tower, it is one of the Three Great Towers of Jiangnan. The history of Yueyang Tower dates from the Three Kingdoms Period, when Lu Su, commander in chief of the forces of Wu, was sent to the area to fortify it and train the fleet there. To ease the inspection and command of ships he constructed a tower near the strategic location where Lake Dongting joins the Yangtze River, from which the whole of Lake Dongting was visible. This inspection tower, then called the Ba Ling Tower after the nearby city of Ba Ling, was the first incarnation of Yueyang Tower.

 

Nice stamps.

Received from: bearbu

CHINA - NATURE

Zhuobi Peaks

Zhuobi Peak is located by the side of the Lijiang River in the southeast of Yangshuo Town. Rounded at the base and pointed at the top, the hill resembles an inverted writing brush. Its beautiful reflection seems dissolved in the green bamboo-flanked river. This is one of the best spots in Yangshuo to photograph sunrise.

 

 

 

 

 

Beautiful stamps.

Received from: Phoebebao

Wulingyuan Scenery, Golden Whip Brook

Golden Whip Brook is located inside the Wulingyuan Scenic Area of Zhangjiajie and several places of interest can be found nearby. The brook meanders its way through 5.7 km (3.54 miles) of mountains and valleys, from north to south. You can enjoy the dense forest and oddly-shaped peaks from either of its banks.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A nice stamp.

Received from: hellogirlcc

Huangshan

Huangshan is a mountain range in southern Anhui province in eastern China. The range is composed of material that was uplifted from an ancient sea during the Mesozoic era, 100 million years ago. The mountains themselves were carved by glaciers during the Quaternary. The area is well known for its scenery, sunsets, peculiarly shaped granite peaks, Huangshan Pine trees, and views of the clouds from above. Huangshan is a frequent subject of traditional Chinese paintings and literature, as well as modern photography. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and one of China's major tourist destinations.

Nice stamps.

Received from: Paologuo

Zhejiang Province

Zhejiang consists mostly of hills, which account for about 70% of its total area. Valleys and plains are found along the coastline and rivers. Most rivers carve out valleys in the highlands, with plenty of rapids and other features associated with such topography. Well-known lakes include the West Lake of Hangzhou and the South Lake of Jiaxing. The postdard shows ZhenDong Bridge that lies in the Siming Mountain.

 

Beautiful stamps.

Received from: Ashleyxs

 

 

 

Suzhou Classical Garden

The Classical Gardens of Suzhou are a group of gardens in Suzhou region, Jiangsu province which have been added to the UNESCO World Heritage List. Spanning a period of almost one thousand years, from the Northern Song to the late Qing dynasties (11th-19th century), these gardens, most of them built by scholars, standardized many of the key features of classical Chinese garden design with constructed landscapes mimicking natural scenery of rocks, hills and rivers with strategically located pavilions and pagodas.

 

Nice stamps.

Received from: ZJsworld

 

 

Mount Qingcheng

Mount Qingcheng is a mountain in Dujiangyan, Sichuan, China. It is amongst the most important centres of Taoism (Daoism) in China. In Taoism mythology, it was the site of the Yellow Emperor's studies with Ning Fengzhi. As a centre of the Daoist religion it became host to many temples. The mountain has 36 peaks.

Beautiful stamps.

Received from: chelinbelinda

 

 

Mount Huangshan

Huangshan is a mountain range in southern Anhui province in eastern China. The range is composed of material that was uplifted from an ancient sea during the Mesozoic era, 100 million years ago. The mountains themselves were carved by glaciers during the Quaternary. The area is well known for its scenery, sunsets, peculiarly shaped granite peaks, Huangshan Pine trees, and views of the clouds from above. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and one of China's major tourist destinations.

 

Nice stamps (sent from Poland).

Received from: pavlette

Yulong Bridge

Yulong Bridge was built in Yongle Period Ming Dynasty. It is a stone bridge with a length of 36 meters, a width of 4.2 meters and a height of 9 meters. Expressing a magnificent feeling, Yulong Bridge is in a simple style but featured minority characters. Yulong Bridge is located in the Yulong River Scenic Area. Without any man-made attractions, this area is the largest natural landscape garden. Yulong River is one of the international natural heritages popular with people from all over the world.

 

 

A nice stamp.

Received from: qqma

ANIMALS - BEARS

Postcards from Finland

Brown Bear

The brown bear is primarily nocturnal. In the summer, it gains up to 180 kilograms of fat, on which it relies to make it through winter. Brown bears are mostly solitary, although they may gather in large numbers at major food sources and form social hierarchies based on age and size. They are omnivores and feed on a variety of plant products, including berries, roots, and sprouts, and fungi, as well as meat products such as fish, insects, and small mammals.  

Received from: Catnip

 

 

 

 

A Moomin stamp.

 

 

Received from: veverka

 

A beautiful snowy stamp.

Received from: westin

 

A rabbit stamp.

 

Postcards from China

Giant Panda

The giant panda lives in a few mountain ranges in central China. As a result of farming, deforestation and other development, the panda has been driven out of the lowland areas where it once lived. In the wild, the giant panda primarily spends its life roaming and feeding in the bamboo forests. Giant pandas are generally solitary. The giant panda is an endangered species.

Received from: misazh

Beautiful stamps.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Received from:  maroussia

Beautiful stamps.

 

 

Postcards from Belarus

Cubs

Cubs remain with their mother from two to four years, during which time they learn survival techniques, such as which foods have the highest nutritional values and where to obtain them; how to hunt, fish, and defend themselves; and where to den. The cubs learn by following and imitating their mother's actions during the period they are with her. An adult male bear may kill the cubs of another bear either to make the female sexually receptive or simply for consumption. Cubs flee up a tree when they see a strange male bear, and the mother defends them, even though the male may be twice her size.

Received from: Evolett

Nice stamps.

 

Postcards from Germany

Polar bear

The polar bear is often regarded as a marine mammal because it spends many months of the year at sea. Its preferred habitat is the annual sea ice covering the waters over the continental shelf and the Arctic inter-island archipelagos. These areas, known as the "Arctic ring of life", have high biological productivity in comparison to the deep waters of the high Arctic. The polar bear is the most carnivorous member of the bear family, and most of its diet consists of ringed and bearded seals. In general, adult polar bears live solitary lives. Yet, they have often been seen playing together for hours at a time and even sleeping in an embrace. Cubs are especially playful.

 

 

 

 

 

A nice stamp.

Received from: Kruemelchen_21

 

 

Postcards from Russia

Polar bear

Between November and February, cubs are born blind, covered with a light down fur, and weighing less than 0.9 kg (2.0 lb). The family remains in the den until mid-February to mid-April, with the mother maintaining her fast while nursing her cubs on a fat-rich milk. By the time the mother breaks open the entrance to the den, her cubs weigh about 10 to 15 kilograms (22 to 33 lb). For about 12 to 15 days, the family spends time outside the den while remaining in its vicinity, the mother grazing on vegetation while the cubs become used to walking and playing. Then they begin the long walk from the denning area to the sea ice, where the mother can once again catch seals. Depending on the timing of ice-floe breakup in the fall, she may have fasted for up to eight months.

Received from: Babochka