Menglan, a super famous giant panda living in Beijing Zoo, turned eight on July 4. To celebrate this special occasion, Xiwaidajie Post Office of China Post released on the same day the first sets of multicolored overprinting seals themed "Hanfu Pandas".

On April 27 this year, Xiwaidajie Post Office won the attention of philatelists by releasing the digitalized "Giant Pandas" anti-counterfeiting promotional meter marks and the themed seals of the "Giant Panda" Cultural Day of the Ancient Creature Themed Post Office. Encouraged by the success of this campaign, Xiwaidajie Post Office took a step further and established a pop-up panda gift shop outside the service hall, and three special counters selling cultural and creative products of "Hanfu Pandas", souvenir panda coins, and "Hanfu Pandas"-themed and other panda-relevant philatelic products. Stamp collectors can also take photos and get postmarks in the interactive area, which is also a sign that the post office is offering more services in new forms.

To celebrate the birthday of Menglan, Xiwaidajie Post Office released several sets of the multicolored overprinting seals themed "Hanfu Pandas", each coming in five seals. By stamping the red, pink, orange, green and black seals one by one on the same spot on a piece of paper or any other medium alike, one can get a complete image of Menglan in the costume of Nezha (a legendary character in Chinese folk religion) managing to pay a visit to a panda princess by hovering over a fence comprising bamboo.

As a national celebrity, Menglan has been long favored by postal services in China. Its photos taken in its first year on earth were printed on several stamped postcards of China Post, while those taken for its 8th birthday were incorporated into the design of stamps, serving as the representative of the national image. Being charming, smart, energetic and sociable, this big, cheerful laddie has won the hearts of the entire country.

(Source: Beijing Daily App)