The Oracle Bone Post Office: Where Centuries Travel on Stamps
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- June 3, 2025
- 6:47 am
Step into the Oracle Bone Post Office in Anyang, and you’ll find history measured not in meters, but in millimeters.
Each tiny stamp tells a story spanning 3,000 years of Chinese civilization — from the bronze artistry of the Shang Dynasty to the roaring waters of the Red Flag Canal.
History in the Palm of Your Hand
When the dragons and taotie patterns of the Simuwu Ding bronze vessel are compressed onto a one-inch frame, the artistry of ancient casting seems to come alive in light and shadow.
When the shimmering waters of the Red Flag Canal are captured within a square of paper, one can almost hear the rhythmic echoes of hammer strikes that built it.
At the “Anyang on the National Postage” exhibition, a 1954 stamp titled “Stone Chime — Musical Instrument of the Shang Dynasty” drew visitors’ admiration.
Carved from Lingbi stone, the chime’s tiger patterns evoke the power and grace of Shang craftsmanship, while its timeless “sound of metal and stone” awakens a civilization’s ancient rhythm.
“This stamp is part of the 1954 Great Motherland – Ancient Relics series, one of the earliest sets related to Anyang after the founding of the People’s Republic,”
explained Lu Lei, head of the philatelic and creative design team at the China Post Anyang Branch.
Stamps: Tiny Windows to a Vast Culture
Often called “the nation’s miniature name cards,” stamps are more than collectibles — they are cultural ambassadors. Each issue bridges time and space, recording history while inspiring exchange.
After Yinxu (the Ruins of the Shang capital) was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2006, China Post released multiple personalized series: three sets of Yinxu stamps and five sets of One Thousand Oracle Bone Characters. Nearly a thousand ancient scripts found new life on these tiny works of art.
In 2016, the Yinxu special stamps were officially launched in Anyang — and one enthusiastic collector from Malaysia even mailed a handwritten request for a set, helping the story of the Shang Dynasty travel overseas.
China Post later co-issued stamps with Guyana and Zambia, featuring treasures like the Fu Hao Owl Bronze Vessel and commemorating 50 Years of the Red Flag Canal. Through these stamps, global collectors encountered the splendor of ancient China and the unyielding spirit of Anyang.
A City Told in Stamps
From the Anyang Air Sports Festival to Olympic Torch Relays and the Red Flag Canal anniversary, dozens of events and landmarks have been immortalized in stamps and first-day covers.
Most recently, a set titled “Anyang: A City You Must Visit Once in Your Life” featured the National Museum of Chinese Writing, Yinxu Museum, and Red Flag Canal, combining artistry with destination storytelling.
Online, Anyang-themed stamps rank among the top sellers on China Post’s Philately Store, while the Oracle Bone Post Office has become a must-visit stop for tourists and collectors.
“A stamp is like a window to my hometown,” said local philatelist Wang Xiandong.
“Seeing our heritage and landscapes on these tiny prints fills me with pride.”
The new wave of “stamp-and-postmark tourism” has taken off among young travelers. On Xiaohongshu (RED), visitors eagerly queue to get special Anyang scenic postmarks, turning letter-sending into a creative cultural ritual.
From Past to Post
As Lu Lei shared, the creative team is already working on a new series featuring the city’s most iconic relics — including the Fu Hao Owl Bronze, Bronze Hand, and Ya Chang Bull Vessel. These will continue to spotlight Anyang’s rich heritage, proving that even in a digital age, a small stamp can carry a civilization’s weight.
Oracle bones, bronzes, Yinxu, General Yue Fei, and the Red Flag Canal — within this cozy post office, over 400 cultural souvenirs and postal collectibles capture the essence of Anyang.
Each piece is a window into the city’s history — a story of craftsmanship, courage, and continuity told in the language of art within a square inch.