The World Stamp Exhibition has opened in Luoyang, an ancient dynastic capital in central China's Henan Province. Over the weekend, the global celebration of philately saw a huge gathering of visitors.

The long queues of people outside the ticket office have been a constant testament to the popularity of the 2009 World Stamp Exhibition. Known as the calling card of a nation, the postal stamp still retains its enduring charm. Even in an age of instantaneous electronic mailing.

Since the opening of the exhibition earlier last week, stamp collectors have been arriving from far and wide. Some are taking the opportunity to personally see world-renowned stamps such as Penny Black. But a considerable number of them are focusing on events of historic significance, such as stamps featuring the theme of the Beijing Olympics.