Stamp collecting

Local residents collect stamps at a Taiyuan Subway Line 2 station in Taiyuan, north China's Shanxi Province. ( tasteallchina /Yang Chenguang) During the eight-day combined Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day holiday this year, stamp collecting emerged as a favored cultural and tourism activity. The rise in popularity can be credited to cultural venues and tourist attractions offering themed stamps. These stamps often showcase iconic structures, figures, and text related to specific sites. Industry experts note that major museums, memorial halls, and cultural zones in China typically offer two types of stamps: permanent ones available year-round and activity stamps available only on specific occasions. These stamp can be either free or charged. Different venues impose varying rules for collecting stamps. Typically, a minimum spending amount is established, and some sites may necessitate the purchase of commemorative stamp card sets or particular items to receive stamps. For many, the appeal of stamp collecting is the sense of involvement and accomplishment it provides. Nowadays, stamps are more carefully designed and exquisitely made. Ji Ruotong, from Shaanxi Province in northwest China, shared that a red stamp depicting the Chang'an city of the Tang Dynasty (618-907), recognized for its square and symmetrical design, remains her…