With Sarah Brightman, who lent her voice at the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympic Games, Kung Fu Star Jackie Chan and numerous pop singers all in attendance, a grand evening gala is staged in Luoyang, the beautiful peony city of Henan Province, to mark the opening of 2009 World Stamp Exhibition on April 9th, 2009.

It is the first time all 84 members of the Federation of International Philately (FIP), the exhibition's sponsor, have applied for the annual event, according to Guo Hongchang, vice chairman of the 2009 World Stamp Exhibition's executive committee.

Sarah Brightman in the opening ceremony of 2009 World Stamp Exhibition

More than 3,200 framed stamp collections will be displayed at the event which actually runs from April 10 to 16. Among the 80 frames of rare stamps is the world-renowned "Penny Black" from the British royal family, as well as Red Revenue Stamps from the China National Post and Postage Stamp Museum.

Guo said eight different medals will be awarded to stamp collections in the competition category. The Large Gold Medal and the Gold Medal are the top prizes.

More than 60 experts from 20 countries and regions form the World Stamp Exhibition Evaluation Committee. Its job is to review the competitive collections sent by FIP members.

The earliest international stamp exhibition was held in Vienna in 1881. The first FIP-sponsored World Stamp Exhibition was held in Algiers in 1930, after the federation was established in 1926.

The World Stamp Exhibition, regarded now as "the Olympics of Philately culture activities", was held in China for the first time in 1999 in Beijing. This year is the second time for the country to host the event.

At the 1990 exhibition in London, the FIP for the first time granted the Gold Medal to a Chinese, Shen Zenghua, for his stamp album entitled "East China People's Post". At the 1999 exhibition in Beijing, Shen won the Grand Prix National medal.

Louyang--a centre for peony culture

Luoyang, a city with a long history and profound culture, was once the capital of 13 dynasties. Today Luoyang is still recognized as a centre for peony culture. Each spring Luoyang holds a 30-day Peony Festival and trade show. Varieties of peonies from overseas are displayed besides the some 600 varieties of peonies developed in Luoyang itself.

A trip to Luoyang in late spring or early summer is just like setting up a journey of dream where an ocean of dancing peonies in full blossom in a blaze of color feasting your eyes with heaven-like fragrance gets you exhilarated even intoxicated, sending everything else including yourself, into oblivion.

The stamp exhibition will be the first event to be held in the new hall of the Luoyang Museum, which was finished on March 26.

The 27th Peony Exhibition is being held in conjunction with the World Stamp Exhibition. Peony, the floral symbol of Luoyang, will be on display throughout the city.