A: Welcome back to Listeners Garden. I'm LPC.

B: And I'm AE. Our Indian listener Jayanta Chakrabarty is a fan of philately, and he is curious about stamp collecting in China.

A: In his letter, Jayanta asks: "Is philately as popular a hobby in China as it is in India? How many stamp collectors are there in China? How many stamps are issued each year?"

B: Hello Jayanta, Thanks for writing to us. In answer to your questions, our topic today will focus on stamp collecting in China.

A: From your letter, Jayanta, I know stamp collecting is very popular in India. That's also the case here in China. A great number of people around the country enjoy the hobby of stamp collecting.

B: According to the All-China Philatelic Federation, there are about 50,000 philately associations in the country, comprising more than 20 million collectors.

A: These organizations hold regular activities in which philatelists can share their collections and promote stamp collecting among the general public.

B: The basic function of stamps, obviously, is to show that someone has paid to mail a letter. But stamps are often used to commemorate special events and national achievements. They are often considered works of art or miniature gateways to a nation.

A: Li Shu-nian is an avid stamp collector in China. He has been dedicated to his hobby for five decades. Although he has experienced ups and downs over the years, his devotion to philately has never wavered.

"I developed an interest in beautiful stamps as a child. My father was a stamp fan and collected all the stamps he could get. Under his influence, I embarked on the road of philately myself. I'm overjoyed each time I add something new to my collection. Whenever I open my stamp albums, I feel a sense of accomplishment. In retirement, I have devoted more time to my hobby and have conducted a lot of research to find out more about my collections."

B: Two decades ago, writing letters was the major means of communications for Chinese people, and stamps played an important role in this. Private collections were still a luxury for most Chinese, but collecting used stamps was a popular form of recreation for people like Li Shunian.

"In the past, all the stamps I collected were used ones. People at the time were not rich enough to have extra money to buy new stamps for collection, so every time I got a letter, I cut out the stamp and put it in my album. I also asked my relatives, neighbors and friends for their stamps. Later, as my income increased, I could afford to buy new issues. I have tried to enrich my collection with every stamp I can obtain."

A: In half a century, Li Shunian has amassed a collection of more than 3,000 stamps and other postal items like postcards, first-day covers and souvenir envelopes. They date back to different times and feature all manner of themes.

B: The collector has also become an expert on China's stamp history, and has published a number of articles in philately newspapers and periodicals. Take any stamp from his collection and he can tell you the history behind it.

A: Li Shunian says although the stamps are small in size, they serve as encyclopedias of the past.

"Chinese stamps cover almost every aspect of the nation, like politics, economy, culture, sports, science, history and geography. Most of the commemorative stamps were issued to mark significant historical events, so they are vivid records of history, opening a window for us to catch a glimpse of China's development over the past century. The stamps are all designed with distinctive Chinese characteristics, turning each one into an exquisite work of art. The unique historical and artistic value makes stamps a wonderful item to collect. This hobby has enhanced my knowledge, and I have made friends with many people who share the same interest."

A: Stamps first appeared in China after the Opium War in 1840, when some Western powers established their own post offices in the country's ports and issued stamps for posting letters.

B: But the first set of Chinese stamps were issued by the Qing Dynasty government in 1878. They were printed on copper plates and bore the image of a dragon against a background of clouds and waves.

A: The dragon stamps were used as ordinary stamps, but they marked the birth of Chinese stamps. In 1894, the Qing government issued China's first set of nine commemorative stamps to celebrate the 60th birthday of Empress Dowager Cixi, the true ruler of the country at that time. Known as longevity stamps, these items are among the most treasured Chinese stamps.

B: The founding of the People's Republic of China in October 1949 turned a new page in the country's postal history. Dozens of sets of new stamps have been issued each year since, and a huge fan base has been cultivated nationwide.

A: This year, China will issue a total of 30 sets of commemorative stamps, including two sets jointly issued with India and the UK.

B: The commemorative stamps are especially appealing to collectors due to their historical, cultural and artistic value. More and more people are taking up philately as a means of enriching their lives.

A: And there are also many people who have turned to the stamp trade to make a profit. Stamp trading markets and auctions are growing in popularity among philatelists on quests for prized items. 　
B: Zhang Yuzhen, a stamp dealer, has witnessed the growth of the country's stamp business over the past decade.
 "Stamp trading is regarded as a good way to make money. Many stamps have a great market potential to rise in value. Handsome profits have attracted people to rush into the stamp markets for investment purposes. Actually, most of my customers are investors. But whether people trade for collections or for investment, it's good that they are promoting stamp collecting and increasing the prosperity of the stamp market."
 
A: In recent years, rapid developments in telecommunications have altered China's traditional postal services. Telephones, emails and mobile phone messages provide fast, convenient means of communication. Fewer people now take the trouble to write snail mail with a pen and paper, and stamps seem to have fallen out of use in most people's lives.
　
B: But the dwindling use of stamps hasn't undermined the enthusiasm of Chinese philatelists. Their fervor for stamp collecting has remained strong, as shown in the booming stamp business. Each time a new set of stamps is issued, they sell out quickly.

A: Following Beijing's successful bid for the 2008 Olympic Games, stamps featuring the Olympic theme have become another hot item among Chinese philatelists. Each new issue generated long queues as collectors swarmed to snap it up.

B: Liu Yunbo is one of the keenest Olympic stamp collectors. An avid sports fan, he has managed to collect almost all the Chinese stamps related to sports.

A: On August 24, when a set of four stamps was jointly issued by China and the UK to mark the handover of the Olympics from Beijing to London, Liu Yunbo waited in line for four hours before the post office was open.

B: After he finally bought his set, Liu Yunbo had all of the stamps of the Beijing Olympic Games.

"I bought these stamps as souvenirs for the games, not as an investment, so I won't sell any of them in the future. I know many people bought the stamps for the purpose of making money. But for me, stamp collecting is a hobby that brings memories and enjoyment instead of monetary value. If I focused on investment, the fun of collecting would be lost."

A: For people who want a complete overview of Chinese stamps, the China National Post Museum in downtown Beijing is the place to go.

B: The museum opened to the public just last year. It houses a collection of every single stamp and other postal items issued in China over the past 130 years.

A: Visitors can catch a glimpse of the history of China's postal service since ancient times, and also check out millions of stamps from more than 200 countries and regions.

B: So basically, the museum is a fantastic place for people interested in stamps.

A: Definitely. And with that, we conclude this week's Listeners' Garden.