Special Stamp Issue - "Mainland Scenery Series No. 9: Fujian Tulou"

Stamp Sheetlet

A stamp sheetlet on the theme of "Mainland Scenery Series No. 9: Fujian Tulou" will be issued on 18 March 2010 (Thursday).

Hongkong Post's Stamp Sheetlets on Mainland Scenery delight the eyes with magnificent landscapes and majestic architecture. The ninth series presents Fujian Tulou, the world's unique mega rammed earth housing structures for mountain dwellers.

A sparkling gem in Chinese culture, Fujian Tulou is known for its long history, massive scale and intricate structure. It is also known as "Hakka Tulou" as most tulou (literally meaning earthen houses) were built by the Hakka people of Fujian Province. Raw earth, the primary construction material, is mixed with sand, lime, wood strips and the like. The mixture is then rubbed, pounded and compressed. Constructed with these reinforced materials, tulou are well ventilated, naturally lit, wind sheltered and quakeproof. The baked tile roofs are exceptionally durable.

If classified by architectural styles, Fujian Tulou mainly consist of round house, square house and "Five-Phoenix" house, with rotunda being the dominant form. The ingeniously built structures sit comfortably on narrow plains in the mountains. Their sophisticated design effectively meets the needs of clan communities, providing defence and security.

Officially inscribed on the World Heritage List on 6 July 2008, Fujian Tulou comprises 46 buildings scattered in ten sites in three counties. They are the Chuxi Cluster, Hongkeng Cluster, Gaobei Cluster, Yanxiang Lou and Zhenfu Lou in Yongding County; Tianluokeng Cluster, Hekeng Cluster, Huaiyuan Lou and Hegui Lou in Nanjing County; and Dadi Cluster in Hua'an County.

The sheetlet depicts the five tulou of the Tianluokeng Cluster. The square Buyun Lou in the middle is surrounded by three rotundas, namely Hechang Lou, Ruiyun Lou and Zhenchang Lou, and the oval Wenchang Lou. The stamp features Chengqi Lou of the Gaobei Cluster, renowned as the "King of Tulou". With its imposing grandeur combined with age-old simplicity, Chengqi Lou blends in perfectly with nature, exemplifying the poetic charm of mountain living.

Sales Arrangements

Information about the sales arrangements of philatelic products associated with this stamp sheetlet is as follows:

Remarks:

1. The above philatelic products are included in the 2010 Local Standing Order Service / 2010 Overseas Mail Order Service. For local customers, please contact Hongkong Post Philatelic Bureau Hotline for enquiry at 2785 5711 or fax to 2191 9296.
2. For overseas customers, please ensure there is sufficient balance in your account to pay your advance order. Otherwise, your order will be processed only when the stock is still available after all orders have been fulfilled. For any enquiries, please contact Hongkong Post Philatelic Bureau (Overseas Mail Order Service Unit) Hotline at 852-2928 7211 or fax to 852-2850 6552.

* "Prestige Stamp Sheetlet Box Gift Set with Mini Tulou Clay Model" is not included in the 2010 Local Standing Order Service. Order form had already been issued to "2010 Local Standing Order Service" customers.

Official First Day Covers, priced at $1 each, will be on sale at all post offices from 4 March 2010. The stamp sheetlet and the associated philatelic products will be displayed at General Post Office, Tsim Sha Tsui Post Office, Tsuen Wan Post Office and Shatin Central Post Office from 4 March 2010. Advance orders for servicing self-provided covers will be accepted at all philatelic offices from 4 to 10 March 2010.

Hand-back Datestamping Arrangements

A hand-back date-stamping service by the office steel date-stamp and the special postmark will be provided on 18 March 2010 at all post offices, for official and privately-made covers, bearing the first day of issue indication and a local address. All philatelic offices will also provide hand-back date-stamping service by the "Philatelic Bureau" pictorial postmark and philatelic office pictorial postmark concurrently. However, the "GPO-1" date-stamp will be available at General Post Office only.

Also on 18 March 2010, the public hall of the Hongkong Post Philatelic Bureau on 1/F., Trade Square, 681 Cheung Sha Wan Road, Kowloon, will open from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. to provide date-stamping service by the "Philatelic Bureau" pictorial postmark and the special postmark.

Stamp Printing Details

Presentation Pack (Cover and Inside Design)
Serviced First Day Cover affixed with a Stamp Sheetlet	Special Postmark	"Fujian Tulou" - Prestige Stamp Sheetlet Box Gift Set with Mini Tulou Clay Model