China Post to highlight ancient China's admiration of birds

[Photo provided to China Daily]

China Post will issue a set of stamps bearing antique images that show ancient Chinese' admiration for some birds. The set, to be released on July 29, will cost 7.8 yuan ($1.2).

Titled Phoenix, the set had an imaginary creature that Chinese once ranked at the top of all birds, symbolizing good luck and peace.

The objects featured in the stamp set include a jade phoenix of the late Neolithic period, now in the collection of the National Museum of China in Beijing; a ceremonial bird-shaped ware of the Western Zhou Dynasty (c.11th century-771 BC) now housed at Taiyuan's Shanxi Museum; a Persian-style vase with a phoenix-head cover and a Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) blue-and-white vase, both from the Palace Museum in Beijing; a gold phoenix ware at Xi'an Museum; and a Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) silk piece featuring the patterns of phoenixes and peonies collected by the Tsinghua University Art Museum.