The 16th annual Shanghai Stamp Collection Festival opened yesterday with an exhibition that attracted hundreds of philatelists.

The exhibition will run through Sunday on the fifth floor of the Shanghai Philatelic Building, 694 Nanjing Road W. The festival will continue through March 16 with various activities throughout the city held by the 26 local stamp-collectors' associations.

The events include discussions and trading of stamps.

Hu Shiyun, spokesman for the city Postal Bureau, said the exhibition showcases 186 sheets displaying stamps divided into eight categories, including air mail and postal history.

"Some of the exhibits are local award-winners in national stamp-collection competitions held last year," Hu said. "Others are collections from philatelists who are 60 or older. Several will be selected to attend China's first stamp exhibition of collections put together by elderly philatelists."

Officials said the oldest collector showing at the exhibition is 88.

Shanghai has 200,000 registered stamp collectors, said officials with the Shanghai Stamp Collectors' Association.

(eastday.com March 6, 2002)