China FDC on "Foreign Musicians"

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China


Foreign Musicians

Date of Issue : 25 July 2010

(Top FDC)
4-1 : Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750), the manuscript used as the background is lifted from Bach's Choral Prelude
--- A German composer and organist, spent most of his lifetime in churches and royal courts. His musical works are mostly devoted to religion, and characterized by philosophy and logic, created with compact and delicate approaches, to convey a broad vision and inclusive splendor. A disciple of Germany's more pristine influences and a master of the Baroque period, Bach profoundly influences the following generations.

(2nd FDC)
4-2 : Franz Joseph Haydn (1732-1809), the score on this stamp is the manuscript of Haydn's "String Quartet in C Major"
--- An Austrian composer, one of the most prolific and prominent composers of the classical period. He is often called the "Father of the Symphony" and "Father of the String Quartet" because of his important contributions to these genres. He was also instrumental in the development of the piano trio and in the evolution of sonata form.

(3rd FDC)
4-3 : Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791), the score manuscript used as the background is a part of Mozart's "TheMarriage of Figaro"
--- A prolific and influential composer of the Classical era. He composed over 600 works, many acknowledged as pinnacles of symphonic, concertante, chamber, piano, operatic, and choral music. He is among the most enduringly popular of classical composers.

(4th FDC)
4-4 : Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827), the score used as the background is from Beethoven's "Symphony No. 9"
--- A German composer and pianist. He was the most crucial figure in the transitional period between the Classical and Romantic eras in Western classical music, and remains one of the most famous and influential composers of all time. Such is the greatness and stretch of his musical influence - the word 'Beethoven' is synonymous with 'musical genius'.

Sri Lanka Postcard

Postcard
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Bilhete Postal

Sri Lanka

A nice postcard from Sri Lanka. I very much like the four beautiful stamps affixed on the card, especially the colourful "600th Year of Sunethradevi Piriven Rajamaha Vihara, Pepiliyana" stamp. Thank You very much !

Algeria FDC on "Year of Peace and Security in Africa"

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Algeria

Year of Peace and Security in Africa

Date of Issue : 19 July 2010

A nice FDC from Algeria with neat and clear cancellation.

Korea FDC on "Philately Week Special"

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South Korea

Philately Week Special

Date of Issue : 29 July 2010

To encourage stamp collecting and to broaden the stamp culture, Korea Post has designated a “philately week” every year and held the Korea Philatelic Exhibition during that week. This year, the Korea Philatelic Exhibition was held from July 29 to August 2 at A Hall A1 (ex-Pacific Hall), COEX, under the theme of “a cool, cultural world where stamps and letters meet.”

As the last installment of the “stamp in a stamp” series that have been issued since 2007, this year’s special stamp issued to commemorate the “Philately Week” features the “5000 Years of Korean Art” special stamps (featuring black and red statues of the Deva King (Vajradhara)), Korea’s first intaglio stamp. This special stamp was a photochromic stamp that reacts to ultraviolet light: such items as “1980” ,“30” will change from a dyed color to the red color, when they are exposed to direct sunlight.

Slovakia FDC on "Seven Saints: St. Gorazd"

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Slovakia

Seven Saints: St. Gorazd

Date of Issue : 27 July 2010

St. Gorazd was probably born in the Great Moravian Court south of Nitra. He was educated in one of the monastery schools or capitulary school where he learned Latin. He was one of the colleagues of the Solun brothers Constantine and Methodius after their arrival to the Great Moravia. Because he was his close assistant, Bishop Methodius named him his successor. He allegedly pointed at him saying: „This is the free man of your country, he is well-educated in Latin books, he is true“. The Pope Stephen V did not recognize the Methodius’s decision on the death bed and forbade him to perform “the position”. He requested that Gorazd appeared at the Pope’s court personally and explained his attitudes in “real words“. Gorazd either did not want to go to Rome, or simply could not. In the turbulent times when Methodius’s disciples were expelled from Great Moravia, he was not among those who would leave for Bulgaria or for Ohrid, not even among those who were sold to slavery by the Jews. He might have been killed or he was hiding on some magnate’s court. Soon, people started to worship him as a saint and after some time, he got into the medieval liturgy calendars.

A really nice FDC from Slovakia. There is a "Seven Saints: St. Clement" stamp which was also issued on 27 July, at the bottom.

Argentina FDC on "MERCOSUR. 2001 – 2010 a Decade Devoted to a Peace - Based Culture"

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Argentina

MERCOSUR. 2001 – 2010 a Decade Devoted to a Peace - Based Culture

Date of Issue : 24 April 2010

MERCOSUR (Southern Common Market) is a Regional Trade Agreement (RTA) between Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay founded in 1991 by the Treaty of Asunción, which was later amended and updated by the 1994 Treaty of Ouro Preto. Its purpose is to promote free trade and the fluid movement of goods, people, and currency.

Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru currently have associate member status. Venezuela signed a membership agreement on 17 June 2006, but before becoming a full member its entry has yet to be ratified by the Congress of Paraguay.

Taiwan FDC on "Lighthouses (Issue of 2010)"

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Taiwan

Lighthouses (Issue of 2010)

Date of Issue : 28 July 2010

Taiwan first issued a set of lighthouses stamps in 1989, and now it is following up with another set of four stamps on the topic, featuring the following lighthouses

NT$5 Stamp : The Chilung Tao Lighthouse (基隆島燈塔)
The lighthouse is located at the highest point on Chilung Tao, off Keelung Harbor. Built in 1980, this octagon-shaped concrete tower, with a black-and-white vertical-striped daymark, uses air batteries for electricity. In 1998, the lighthouse switched to solar power. In 2006, wind power was added as a secondary power source. The lighthouse has a nominal range of 13.8 nautical miles

NT$5 Stamp : The Wenkan Tui Lighthouse (塭港堆燈塔)
Built in 1914, this skeletal steel frame light tower is located on Waisanding Sandbar off Kouhu Township, Yunlin County. In 1974, due to sandbar shift, the lighthouse was rebuilt and placed in a new location nearby. The new structure is a square tapered steel frame tower, using a fourth-order AC light. In 2006, because of sandbar shift, the lighthouse was moved once again to present location, and a radar beacon pole was added. The lighthouse has a nominal range of 13.1 nautical miles.

NT$10 Stamp : The Paisha Chia Lighthouse (白沙岬燈塔)
Built in 1901, this round brick light tower is located in Guanyin Township, Taoyuan County. In 1956, the lighthouse was equipped with a third-order revolving lens light, producing one flash every 20 seconds, alternating between white and red lights. The white and red lights have a luminous intensity of one million and 310,000 candlepower respectively. In 2002 the Taoyuan County Government designated the lighthouse as a county monument. The nominal range of the red light is 22.6 nautical miles, and the range of the white light is 25.7 nautical miles.

NT$25 Stamp : The Liuchiu Yu Lighthouse (琉球嶼燈塔)
Built in 1929, this round light tower is located at the highest point on the south-east coast of Liuchiu Yu off Pingtung County. In 1952, the lighthouse was equipped with a fifth-order acetylene flashing light. In 1980, the light was replaced by an AC light, which has a luminous intensity of 10,000 candlepower. The lighthouse has a nominal range of 14.3 nautical miles.

Philippines FDC on "President Benigno S. Aquino III Inauguration"

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Philippines

President Benigno S. Aquino III Inauguration

Date of Issue : 26 July 2010

On June 30, 2010, at the Quirino Grandstand in Rizal Park, Manila, Benigno Simeon Cojuangco Aquino III was sworn into office as the fifteenth President of the Philippines, succeeding Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, by Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines Conchita Carpio-Morales

Benigno Simeon Cojuangco Aquino III (born February 8, 1960 in Manila) is also known as Noynoy Aquino. Aquino graduated from Ateneo de Manila University in 1981 and joined his family in their exile in the United States shortly thereafter. He returned to the Philippines in 1983 shortly after the assassination of his father. In 1998, he was elected to the House of Representatives as Representative of the 2nd district of Tarlac province. He was subsequently re-elected to the House in 2001 and 2004. In 2007, he was elected to the Senate in the 14th Congress of the Philippines.

On September 9, 2009, Aquino officially announced he would be a candidate in the 2010 presidential election, held on May 10, 2010.

On June 9, 2010, the Congress of the Philippines proclaimed Aquino the winner of the 2010 presidential election.

My first FDC from the Philippines. Very nice. I like to see the big national flag and emblem on the FDC. Most important of all, the stamps are beautiful and the cancellations are neat and clear. Thank You very much to my friend.

Indonesia FDC on "A Century of Muhammadiyah"

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Indonesia


A Century of Muhammadiyah

Date of Issue : 3 July 2010

Muhammadiyah is an Islamic organization in Indonesia. Muhammadiyah, literally means "followers of Muhammad" (from Arabic). The organization was founded on 18 November 1912 by Ahmad Dahlan— a court official of the kraton of Yogyakarta and an educated Muslim scholar from Mecca in the city of Yogyakarta as a reformist socioreligious movement, advocating ijtihad - individual interpretation of Qur'an and sunnah, as opposed to taqlid - the acceptance of the traditional interpretations propounded by the ulama.

At the moment, Muhammadiyah is the second largest Islamic organization in Indonesia with 29 million members. Although Muhammadiyah leaders and members are often actively involved in shaping the politics in Indonesia, Muhammadiyah is not a political party. It has devoted itself to social and educational activities.

Israel Postcard - The Western Wall, Jerusalem

Postcard
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Bilhete Postal

Israel

A beautiful card showing the view of Western Wall, Jerusalem. My friend is so nice to affix so many stamps on the card. Thank You very much !

China FDC on "China Maritime Day"

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China


China Maritime Day

Date of Issue : 11 July 2010

China Maritime Day falls on July 11, anniversary of the date Zheng He of the Ming Dynasty royal court set out on his first overseas voyage. It was designated by the State Council in 2005. It is the executive date of World Maritime Day in China. China Maritime Day 2010 highlighted the theme of "ocean, sailor and strait", with its primary celebration venue in Quanzhou, Fujian Province.

Bahrain Postcard - old Khamis Mosque

Postcard
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Bilhete Postal

Bahrain

Another nice Bahrain postcard showing the old Khamis Mosque.

Lithuania Postcard

Postcard
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Bilhete Postal

Lithuania

A really unexpected surprise from Lithuania. This nice multiview postcard shows various Churches in Vilnius, including Churches of St. Ann, All Saints, St. Michael, Gates of the Basilian Monastery, Churches of St Bernardine, St Casimir, Sts Johns, Sts Apostles Peter and Paul and St Nicola. The three stamps affixed on the card are beautiful too. Thank You very much to my friend

Macau Cover

Cover
封
Sobrescrito

Macau

On July 15, Macau celebrated the 5th Anniversary of “The Historic Centre of Macao” inscribed on the UNESCO’s prestigious “World Cultural Heritage List”.Besides that Macau issued a set of "St. Augustine's Square" stamps, Macau Post also set up a counter to provide postal stamping service in Lilau Square. On that day, I have spent some time to Lilau Square and sent a cover to myself. I was so foolish and crazy to affix 10 stamps with a total face value of 31.5, which is enough for the postage of senting a letter of 100g to Hong Kong by express mail. On the cover, I have affixed a set of "St. Augustine's Square" new stamps, and some World heritage stamps issued in 2005.

Portugal Postcard - Statue of Vasco da Gama

Postcard
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Bilhete Postal

Portugal

A nice postcard showing the view of Statue of Vasco da Gama. Sines is the birthplace of Vasco da Gama, a great Portuguese explorer, who was born at the castle where his father Estêvão da Gama was the local alcalde.

Macau FDC on "World Heritage – St. Augustine's Square"

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Macau

Património Mundial – Largo de Santo Agostinho

World Heritage – St. Augustine's Square

Date of Issue : 15 July 2010

To celebrate the 5th Anniversary of “The Historic Centre of Macao” inscribed on the UNESCO’s prestigious “World Cultural Heritage List”, Macau Post issued a set of stamps based on the theme “World Heritage – St. Augustine's Square”.

MOP 1.5 stamp : Teatro Dom Pedro V (Dom Pedro V Theatre)

MOP 2.5 stamp : Biblioteca Sir Robert Ho Tung (Sir Robert Ho Tung Library)

MOP 3.5 stamp : Igreja de Santo Agostinho (St. Augustine's Church)

MOP 4.0 stamp : Seminário e Igreja de São José (St. Joseph's Seminary and Church)

MOP 10.0 souvenir sheet : Largo de Santo Agostinho (St. Augustine's Square), the historic spot where the Portuguese gathered for social activities in the past

July 15 was really a busy day to me. Both Hong Kong Post and Macau issued stamps on that day. Hong Kong has the "Biodiversity" stamp issue, while Macau issued the "St. Augustine's Square". This Macau stamp issue was designed by Mr. Lai Ieng. I very much like the stamps designed by him. So, I did not mind to spent some time to visit Macau and sent a FDC to myself. Hope he would continue to design more and more beautiful stamps.

Hong Kong FDC on "Biodiversity"

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Hong Kong

Biodiversity

Date of Issue : 15 July 2010

The United Nations declared 2010 the International Year of Biodiversity. This set of stamps presents four endemic species in the territory.

Macropodus hongkongensis ($1.40) - A member of the Belontiidae family, Macropodus hongkongensis (commonly known as Hong Kong Paradise Fish) is the only freshwater fish named after Hong Kong. It can be found in the northeastern part of the territory including the northern New Territories, Tai Po and Sai Kung. The fish has an elliptical and laterally compressed body with elongated dorsal and anal fins. The first pair of gill-rakers extends to form a supplementary respiratory organ. The fish is generally solid black or greyish in colour. During spawning season, the males exhibit dark black body colour and their unpaired fins are lined with bluish-white edges.

Liuixalus romeri ($2.40) - Liuixalus romeri (commonly known as Romer's Tree Frog) is an amphibian of the Rhacophoridae family. Distributed in woodlands on Lamma Island, Lantau Island, Po Toi and Chek Lap Kok, it is the smallest among the frog species recorded in Hong Kong, with an average body length from 1.5 to 2.5 centimetres. The frog's whitish belly and brownish back with a dark X-shaped marking give camouflage in its natural habitat.

Sinopora hongkongensis ($3) - Sinopora hongkongensis is a medium-sized tree of the Lauraceae or Laurel family, and can reach 16 metres in height. Bracteoles bear rust-coloured hairs. Leaves are elliptical and flowers small and greenish-yellow, with globular and yellowish-brown fruits up to 4 centimetres in diameter. First discovered at Tai Mo Shan in 2005, Sinopora hongkongensis was identified as a species new to science and is the only known representative of the genus Sinopora.

Fukienogomphus choifongae ($5) - Fukienogomphus choifongae is a medium-sized gomphid. The dragonfly has a yellow and black body. The male has stout white superior anal appendages and widely divaricate black inferior anal appendages. The female also has white superior anal appendages but short black inferior anal appendages. First discovered at Wu Kau Tang in the northeastern New Territories in 2004, Fukienogomphus choifongae was identified as a species new to science

Nicaragua Postcard - Volcano Momotombito

Postcard
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Bilhete Postal

Nicaragua

A nice postcard showing the view of Volcano Momotombito. The stamps are beautiful and the cancellation are nice too. Thank You very much !

China FDC on "Ruins of the Ancient Loulan"

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China


Ruins of the Ancient Loulan (樓蘭)

Date of Issue : 3 July 2010

2-1 : Buddhist Pagoda
2-2 : Three-Room House

The ruins of the ancient city of Loulan are located northwest to Lop Nur in Ruoqiang County, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. During the Han Dynasty (206B.C.-A.D.220), Loulan city, as the capital of Loulan Kingdom in the western region, occupied a strategic geographical location along the Silk Road stretching to the western regions, playing an important role in the Chinese history of international cultural exchange. In the following Wei and Jin dynasties, as well as the early Liang Period, the city witnessed great prosperity. After the mid-4th century, it declined. Despite more than 1000 years of weathering, today many historical sites and cultural relics can still be found on the locale, including houses, Buddhist temples, beacon towers, and tombs. the ruins were listed as an important cultural heritage under state protection in 1988.

Israel FDC on "Musical Instruments of the Middle East"

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Israel

Musical Instruments of the Middle East

Date of Issue : 14 June 2010

(from Left to Right)
Darbuka and Drum
Darbuka is a goblet shaped hand drum used mostly in music originating in countries near the Middle East. Its thin, responsive drumhead and resonance help it produce a distinctively crisp sound. The drum is the world's oldest and most ubiquitous musical instrument.

Qanun and Piano
The qanun has 50-100 strings and is popular from India to northwest Africa. It is very commonly used in Turkish music and came to Egypt through Turkish influence. The qanun, which is considered to be a precursor to the Western piano, is incorporated into modern Arab music and is considered, along with the oud, to be a focal instrument. The piano reached its peak in Western music in the early 18th century and in the 19th and 20th centuries

Oud and Guitar
The guitar is very common in Western folk and artistic music. There are many different types of guitars and the number of strings varies, although six strings are customary. This instrument is known by many names and has been a part of Western culture since the Middle Ages. The guitar may be played polyphonically. The oud is the most typical Arab instrument, but its origins are unclear. In most cases it has five strings and in ancient times was played with an eagle feather. Today a pick is used. The oud is monophonic. Arab music theoreticians used the oud to explain their music.

The stamp tabs and lower sections feature Oriental rugs from the Middle East and Central Asia.

Taiwan FDC on "Chinese Classic Novel 'Journey to the West' (Issue of 2010)"

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Taiwan

Chinese Classic Novel “Journey to the West” (Issue of 2010)

Date of Issue : 7 July 2010

(from Left to Right)
NT$5 Stamp : Complete Enlightenment
The monkey king of Mt. Huaguo in the Water Curtain Cave, desiring immortality, made off to the Three Star Cave to study under the Buddhist Patriarch Subodhi, who gave him the name Sun Wukong, and from whom he learned secrets of magic. Later, because Sun would recklessly show off his magic, Subodhi renounced him as a student. Furthermore, Subodhi gave him a pointer: “Whence one comes, one returns.”

NT$5 Stamp : Sun Wukong Wreaks Havoc in Heaven
The Jade Emperor conveyed on Sun Wukong the title “Great Sage Equal of Heaven,” and sent him off to administer the garden of Queen Mother of the West’s peaches of immortality. Sun stole and ate some peaches, pills of immortality and wine prepared for Heaven’s Peach Festival. The Jade Emperor dispatched his forces to capture him and the monkey was imprisoned in Mt. Wuhang by Tathagata.

NT$12 Stamp : Dreaming of Beheading the Jing River Dragon King
The Jing River Dragon King disobeyed the Jade Emperor’s directive to create rain. Consequently, the emperor sent Wei Zheng to behead the Dragon King, and the Dragon King appeared in Emperor Tang Taizong’s dream to ask for help. To divert Wei Zheng’s attention, Emperor Tang Taizong invited him to his palace to discuss affairs of state and then play chess. During the game Wei Zheng dozed off, at which time his spirit left his body to behead the dragon.

NT$25 Stamp : Stealing the Ginseng Fruits
The Ginseng fruit was a great treasure of Longevity Mountain. After Sun Wukong and Pigsy were scolded for secretly eating Ginseng fruits, Sun Wukong destroyed the orchard in a fit of pique. Eventually the dew drops of the Goddess of Mercy saved the Ginseng fruit trees.

Nepal Postcard - Annapurna Range

Postcard
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Bilhete Postal

Nepal

A beautiful postcard showing the Annapurna Range from Pokhara, Nepal.

Hong Kong FDC on "Characteristic Streets in Hong Kong"

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Hong Kong

Characteristic Streets in Hong Kong

Date of Issue : 24 June 2010

Pottinger Street ($1.40) – The street was originally built from Queen's Road Central up to Hollywood Road. Because of its steep slope, the street was paved entirely with stone slabs, forming steps in an undulating pattern to make it easy for people to go up and down and to drain away stormwater. It is hence also called "Stone Slab Street".

Nathan Road ($1.40) – Stretching from Tsim Sha Tsui in the south all the way up to Boundary Street in Mong Kok, Nathan Road is one of the busiest streets in Hong Kong. It runs through the hustling and bustling Yau Tsim Mong District, lit up like a kaleidoscope by neon signs of shops, hotels, shopping arcades and restaurants along the way.

Hollywood Road ($2.40) – Alias "Antique Street", Hollywood Road is lined with antique shops that lend an air of nostalgic elegance. In this treasure trove for antique lovers, a wide range of thrilling items covering ceramics and jade, silk and embroidery, blackwood furniture, paintings and calligraphy are waiting for discerning buyers.

Temple Street ($2.40) – For a real taste of Hong Kong culture, there is no better place than Temple Street, the street named after Tin Hau Temple in Yau Ma Tei. Dubbed "People’s Night Market" for its all-time bargains, Temple Street comes alive when the city lights up at dusk. Flocks of visitors linger around open-air stalls offering inexpensive goods, local culinary delights or fortune-telling, and they also enjoy performances of Chinese opera.

Des Voeux Road West ($3) – Our famous "Dried Seafood Street", Des Voeux Road West is a traditional marketplace for ginseng products and herbs as well as dried seafood. Clustered with shops selling products such as dried abalone, sea cucumber, shark fin and fish maw as well as Chinese herbal medicines and tonics, the street swarms with locals and visitors shopping for festive goodies when the Lunar New Year is drawing near.

Stanley Market ($3) – Encompassing Stanley New Street, Stanley Market Road and Stanley Main Street, Stanley Market is a popular tourist attraction in Southern District on Hong Kong Island. Apart from an interesting array of shops and stalls selling clothing and accessories, Chinese paintings and calligraphy, handicrafts and local souvenirs, the place is dotted with bars and restaurants offering a fine selection of world cuisines, making it an ideal choice for leisure travel.

China FDC on "Guangzhou and the Enchanting Pearl River"

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China


Guangzhou and the Enchanting Pearl River

Date of Issue : 28 June 2010

(On the 2nd FDC)
4-1 : Legendary Five Goats
4-2 : Guangzhou Center for the Performing Arts

(On the top FDC)
4-3 : The Pearl River
4-4 : Guangzhou International Convention and Exhibition Center

Guangzhou, the capital of Guangdong Province, lies in the southern part of the province where the Pearl River meets the sea. Legend has it that five immortals riding five goats, each holding a rice stalk in the mouth, descended here from the heaven, hence the city's nicknames, Suicheng (City of Rice Ears) and Yangcheng (City of Goats). In 214 B.C., Qin Shi Huang (First Emperor of the Qin Dynasty) ordered General Ren Xiao to lead troops on an expedition to unify the southern regions. The triumphant troops then constructed a city in present-day Panyu area, which was documented as the begining of the history of Guangzhou. Historically, Guangzhou was an important part of the ancient Maritime Silk Road, while in morden days, it is a pilot in China's reform and opening-up policies, and it serves as the host city of the 16th Asian Games.

The design of the special cancellation of Shanghai is very much better than the offical cancellation.