78-Year-Old Stamp Collector Shares Chongqing’s Beauty Through Stamps

Chongqing - For 78-year-old Xia Hu, stamps are far more than small pieces of paper; they are windows into history, art, and culture. His passion began when he was just ten, collecting stamps from family letters and, later, buying stamps with his first paycheck. Today, Xia’s lifelong dedication to stamps and the stories they tell has made him a respected figure in Chongqing’s philatelic community.

Xia spends much of his leisure time perusing his vast collection of stamp albums, reflecting on how these tiny pieces illustrate the beauty of Chongqing and China. He hopes to inspire others to appreciate the rich cultural and historical significance contained within each stamp.

A lifelong journey with stamps

Xia’s fascination with stamps began with their vibrant colors and intricate designs. As a child, he eagerly gathered stamps from family letters and even sought permission from neighbors to collect theirs. These stamps, featuring vivid images of flora, fauna, and scenes from daily life, became a source of endless wonder. Though he lost his early collection during a move in 1961, Xia’s passion remained undiminished.

When he started working, Xia initially used his earnings to buy stamps without specific criteria. However, as he delved deeper into philately, he began to select stamps with personal meaning or reflected historical moments. During his work trips, he visited stamp markets in cities like Beijing, Guangzhou, and Shanghai, and he was thrilled by each new addition to his collection.

Uncovering the Chengdu-Chongqing railway stamp’s mystery

One of Xia’s most notable philatelic achievements involved uncovering the origins of the “Chengdu-Chongqing Railway” stamp. Released in 1952, this stamp commemorated China’s first self-constructed railway, showing a train crossing the mysterious “Meiyao Bridge.” For years, the bridge’s precise location remained unknown, and various speculations about its whereabouts remained.

In 2017, Xia undertook a months-long investigation. He pored over historical records and finally found a 1952 People’s Daily photograph that matched the stamp’s design. Although the article didn’t specify the location, Xia and a group of philatelic friends traced the bridge to a site near Jiangjin’s Baishatuo in Chongqing. He published his findings in an article, earning acclaim from the philatelic community and solidifying his reputation as a dedicated researcher.

Treasuring Chongqing’s heritage through stamps

Xia’s collection highlights many facets of Chongqing’s history and culture. One of his oldest items is an 1893 stamp depicting a sailboat and a pagoda on a river, believed to be one of the first stamps featuring Chongqing. He also treasures stamps commemorating the first anniversary of the city’s elevation to municipality directly under the central government in 1998, showcasing iconic locations such as Chongqing Great Hall of the People and Chaotianmen Dock.

Additionally, Xia has contributed to philatelic history himself. A stamp celebrating the 10th anniversary of the Yuxinou Railway—a critical segment of the China-Europe Railway Express—features his photographs of the railway in action. Xia spent hours on site to capture the ideal images, a testament to his commitment to sharing Chongqing’s progress through stamps.

Xia is now compiling a comprehensive history of Chongqing’s philatelic achievements. With support from the Chongqing Philatelic Association, he hopes to create a lasting record of the city’s journey as told through stamps. His goal is to share Chongqing’s stories with others, allowing them to appreciate the beauty and cultural significance embedded in these miniature artworks.

Through his dedication, Xia has preserved Chongqing’s history while creating a legacy that reflects the evolving beauty of his city and his country—one stamp at a time.

(Ji Wenling, a reporter from Shangyou News, contributed the Chinese version of this report.)