The Pagoda Forest In Shaolin, China

My amazement with China hasn't subsided in the months past, especially because of more great postcards that I've received - like this view of the Pagoda Forest at Shaolin Temple in Henan province. There are impressive 228 stone or brick pagodas built from 791 AD during the Tang Dynasty through the Song Dynasty, Yuan Dynasty, Ming Dynasty, and Qing Dynasty. Thank you Cynthia, and the stamps are great too!

 

UNESCO - Xinjiang Tianshan, China

Tian Shan is  a large system of mountain ranges located in Central Asia; in China being in the northwesternmost autonomous region Xinjiang.  Xinjiang Tianshan presents unique physical geographic features and scenically beautiful areas including spectacular snow and snowy mountains glacier-capped peaks, undisturbed forests and meadows, clear rivers and lakes and red bed canyons.

You may not recognise at first (well I didn't, but maybe its not a norm!) but this is a view of a lake - Tianchi or Heaven Lake of Tian Shan which lies on the north side of the Bogda Shan range of the Tianshan Mountains, about 45 kilometres east of Ürümqi.

Love it love it love it, thank you Jarod Xia! :)

The Ancient Watertown Xitang, China

 

This is, without hesitation, one of the most beautiful views cards I have ever received - one of the oldest towns in China, Xitang is situated in the Zhejiang Province in eastern China, a watertown crisscrossed by nine (!) rivers, stretched across eight sections that are linked by old-fashioned stone bridges. When I visit China this will surely be on my itinerary...Many thanks to Cynthia, also for the great selection of stamps! I love it when I see the back of the card covered with stamps :))

As today's theme for Sunday Stamps is Stamps From China Or Taiwan, this seemed like a perfect choice...Some have no year printed on it, but the middle and the top-right one do:

The left one is (poeticly) titled Footprints In The Snow, is from a set issued in 2007 showing Shiwan ceramics. The right one from 2010 from the series Chinese Idiom, and now I see I have posted here about a different stamp from this series before..! I just can't figure out how I managed to find the story behind it :/

More beautiful stamps here:

 

UNESCO - Ancient Building Complex In The Wudang Mountains, China

 

New blog entry at last! And once again inspired by Viridian's stamps blog :) This week's theme is pets, and I have recently received this wonderful Unesco postcard with very cute cat stamps on the back :)) They are from a set of four issued in 2013.

The postcard shows the Purple Cloud Temple or Purple Heaven Palace, Zixiao Palace, or...I have found a few names..! In any case looks like a wonderful place to visit. As any Chinese Unesco site. Or any Unesco site. Or any place in China...what, I want to see everything! Thank you Elsa for this great piece of mail :))

UNESCO - Mount Wuyi, China

The Wuyi Mountains, situated in Fujian Province in Southeast China, cover an area of 60km²  and boast great biodiversity - there are about 5000 animal species dwelling in the area. Some are endemic (Bamboo Snake), some critically endangered (South Chinese Tiger, Clouded Leopard). Some have names I've never heard before! Muntjac is a type of deer, Tragopan a type of pheasant :)

It was love at first sight with this postcard...it shows one of the main attractions the Shuilian- or Water Curtain Cave, one of the 72 caves in these scenic mountains. It must be an amazing feeling to climb those steps with the high steep rock dwarfing you and a waterfall dropping down past you..! Thank you Tian Tian for sending this fabulous card and lovely stamps :)

 

Another stunning view...I am more and more thinking about travelling to China. Postcrossing has made me realise there are so many wonders to be seen, but how long would it take me to see it all, a year..?! Some kind of solution will pop up eventually I am sure :) In the meantime, thank you yuerdou for adding to my collection (and my daydreams)..!

UNESCO - Sichuan Giant Panda Sanctuaries, China

The sanctuaries in the Qionglai and Jiajin Mountains are home to this highly endangered species, as well as some others like red panda, snow leopard or clouded leopard. Mt Siguniang is one of the areas where pandas live in their natural habitat and have improved conditions for captive breeding. The estimates say that there are between 1500-2000 individuals living in the wild; not an impressive number, but it is suggested that the number is on the rise. Fingers crossed!

Thank you Kun and Pro for these gorgeous cards :))

UNESCO - Mausoleum Of The First Qin Emperor, China

 

No doubt thousands of statues still remain to be unearthed at this archaeological site, which was not discovered until 1974. Qin (d. 210 B.C.), the first unifier of China, is buried, surrounded by the famous terracotta warriors, at the centre of a complex designed to mirror the urban plan of the capital, Xianyan. The small figures are all different; with their horses, chariots and weapons, they are masterpieces of realism and also of great historical interest.

I have just realised that I have already posted about these stamps! But they are quite beautiful and I really do love the green mossy trees one - they represent the Shennongjia National Nature Reserve known for its high plant diversity. Issued in 1998. Thank you Twenty :)

Tibetan Donkeys/Civil Dwellings In Qinghai, China

Another great RAS card from last month, new donkeys for my collection :) Thanks to Nat and an unknown postcrosser who used lovely stamps...this might qualify as tentative Unesco site (The Diaolou Buildings and Villages for Tibetan and Qiang Ethnic Groups) but no real way to find out at this point...in any case this made me very happy, thanks guys! <3 p="">

Fawkes, Harry Potter

 

Tonight I am starting the Harry Potter odyssey - watching all the movies in the shortest time possible. It will be the 1st time I watch the last movie, the finale! Its been a while since I've dived into the Harry Potter world, I have my new roomie to thank for this idea :) Fawkes is Dumbledore's highly intelligent phoenix, his companion and defender. 

UNESCO - Dazu Rock Carvings, China

 

The steep hillsides of the Dazu area contain an exceptional series of rock carvings dating from the 9th to the 13th century. They are remarkable for their aesthetic quality, their rich diversity of subject matter, both secular and religious, and the light that they shed on everyday life in China during this period. They provide outstanding evidence of the harmonious synthesis of Buddhism, Taoism and Confucianism.

The thing with the amazing Chinese Unesco sites is, one usually needs two of more postcards from different perspectives to fully appreciate their grandeur. This is a larger view of the rock carvings, and I am sure a close-up of the carved details would be just as amazing :) Thank you Susan!

UNESCO - Fujian Tulou, China

Fujian Tulou is a property of 46 buildings constructed between the 15th and 20th centuries over 120 km in south-west of Fujian province, inland from the Taiwan Strait. Set amongst rice, tea and tobacco fields the Tulou are earthen houses several storeys high, built along an inward-looking, circular or square floor plan as housing for up to 800 people each.

This postcard shows the Yuchanglou (裕昌樓), a five-storey tulou located at Nanjing County, Shuyang Town, Xiabanliao Village. It was built in 1308 Yuan dynasty by the Liu family clan and is one of the oldest and tallest tulou in China. Yuchanglou has been nicknamed the "zigzag building", also ''dilapitated building''.

But it looks quite awesome doesn't it? Thanks so much Kay :))

People Of Tibet

As the last post for Sunday Stamps #121: Stamps from China I add two portraits of people from Tibet - a young girl in the snowy mountains, and a representation of folklore. I couldnt find anything on the latter but I will do more extensive research as this costume looks very interesting...

I was thrilled to see this many stamps on the back: the 1st is from a set of four Historic Relics of Macao issued in 1997 and shows the Ruins of St. Paul's, which are in some way hauntingly beautiful...The other two scenic stamps are two from a set of four showing Shennongjia Forestry District.

All my posts today are dedicated to China in case you are interested ;)
And here you can see some really gorgeous Chinese stamps, honest! Just click the links :)

                                                        

Fenghuang Ancient City, China

Another picturesque town from China - the ancient town of Fenghuang and its gorgeous rainbow bridge. Fenghuang City is located in the southwest of Hunan Province, at the foot of mountains and beside waters. Its construction has proved a very practical and scientific exploration in terms of the town site selection as well as layout design and city planning - it has made wonderful use of the mountain landscape and the water flows to create harmonious relationship between human residence and nature. It is now on Unesco WHS's tentative list.

The two stamps are from a set of four titled Chinese Idiom Stories issued in 2010.

(source: cultural china web-site) 

'Sleeping on brushwood and tasting gall' 

In the Spring and Autumn Period, the State of Wu defeated the State of Yue, and took the king of Yue, Gou Jian, and his wife prisoner. For several years, Gou Jian laboured as a slave in Wu. When he was released and returned to Yue, Gou Jian was determined to take revenge for losing his state. So that he would never forget his humiliation, he slept on a pile of brushwood and tasted gall before every meal. After ten years of careful preparations, he attacked and finally conquered the State of Wu.

This idiom is used to describe inspiring oneself and working hard to accomplish an ambition.

'Mao Sui recommending himself'
In the Warring States Period, the State of Qin besieged the capital of the State of Zhao. Duke Pingyuan of Zhao planned to ask the ruler of the State of Chu personally for assistance. He wanted to select a capable man to go with him. A man called Mao Sui volunteered. When the negotiations between the two states were stalled because the ruler of Chu hesitated to send troops, Mao Sui approached him, brandishing a sword. At that, the ruler of Chu agreed to help Zhao, against Qin.
This idiom means to recommend oneself.

Panda On The Move

Oh I just looove this cutie - you usually see pandas in a very leisurely mood, this one is on the move and I like the look of surroundings, you'd think its in the wild. Thank you Huiyi :)

UNESCO - The Great Wall Of China

Its somewhat amazing that I havent posted about the Great Wall so far, eh? :) As I am sure I have other views, but this one captures the most I think - the setting, the vastness and the ingenuity of this unique structure. 

As the official Unesco site sez: ''The Great Wall was continuously built from the 3rd century BC to the 17th century AD on the northern border of the country as the great military defence project of successive Chinese Empires, with a total length of more than 20,000 kilometers. The Great Wall begins in the east at Shanhaiguan in Hebei province and ends at Jiayuguan in Gansu province to the west. Its main body consists of walls, horse tracks, watch towers, and shelters on the wall, and includes fortresses and passes along the Wall.''

And these are only a few of the hundreds of interesting facts. One thing is for sure - it has to be seen and experienced :)

UNESCO - Mount Huangshan, China

Huangshan is a mountain range in southern Anhui province in eastern China, known for its scenery, sunsets, peculiarly shaped granite peaks, Huangshan Pine trees, and views of the clouds from above. Such as this one! A stunning view and great stamps, thank you xuh! :))

Père David's Deer, China

There was always somethings strangely beautiful about this photo...the trees and the deer look so calm and perfect together. Then I look more into it for this blog, and realise its the endangered Père David's Deer (or Milu in Chinese), a species that is currently extinct in the wild. This photo is taken in Dafeng national nature reserve, the largest for the unpolluted wetland in China (situated on the east coast) and recognized as a fabulous conservation land for this precious animal.

The naked tree tops look like antlers too...and I love the contrast of the white colour of snow and deer's red fur. Thanks so much Sudan! :))

UNESCO - Longmen Grottoes, China

The Longmen Grottoes are one of the finest examples of Chinese Buddhist art, housing tens of thousands of statues of Buddha and his disciples . They are situated  some 12 kilometres south of present day Luòyáng in Hénán province, central east China.

And once that I've seen their view from a distance, I was extra amazed and have to post it here! (source: wikipedia)

I was also curious about stamps, and found out that the 1st one shows the Palace Museum (the Forbidden City) and the 2nd the rock paintings (hunting scene) in Helan Mountains - an isolated desert mountain range forming the border of Inner Mongolia's Alxa League and Ningxia (northern China).
Thank you very much Lillian! :))

Guilin Scenery, China

Guìlín is a prefecture-level city of far southern China, sitting on the west bank of the Li River. It is the scenery of the riverside that makes this area one of the more popular tourist spots in China. You can take a cruise down the river to enjoy the views as the river winds through some truly spectacular limestone formations. Courtesy of...:)

As I've just learned, Unesco has The Lijiang River Scenic Zone at Guilin on its tentative list :)

UNESCO - Yungang Grottoes, China

The Yungang Grottoes are ancient Chinese Buddhist temple grottoes near the city of Datong in the province of Shanxi. They are an outstanding example of the Chinese stone carvings from the 5th and 6th centuries. All together the site is composed of 252 grottoes with more than 51,000 Buddha statues and statuettes.

I am left with nothing but sighs of bewilderment when I look at Chinese Unesco sites...Thank you Jinzhou :))