The TAIPEI 2005 – 18th Asian International Stamp Exhibition is the first large international stamp show since the Directorate was corporatized to become Chunghwa Post. The exhibition is going to be held on August 19-24, 2005 at the Taipei World Trade Center. To publicize and celebrate this occasion, Chunghwa Post is issuing a series of eight separate souvenir sheets. The first and the second were released on August 27, 2004 and April 19, 2005 respectively. The third to the eighth will be released during the exhibition. Their particulars are given as follows: Taiwan Conservation on August 19, Taiwan Technology on August 20, Taiwan Flowers and Fruits on August 21, Taiwan Festivals on August 22, Taiwan Cuisine on August 23 and Taiwan Ocean Life on August 24. Each sheet consists of one NT$5 stamp and one NT$25 stamp. A brief introduction to these sheets is given hereunder:   No. 3: Taiwan Conservation Because of its warm subtropical climate and varied topography, Taiwan is endowed with wonderful natural scenery and a great variety of fauna and flora. In an effort to help promote the concept of ecological conservation, this souvenir sheet takes conservation in Taiwan as its topic. The central design is a silhouette of a flying bird against a light green background. The broad wingspan of the bird conveys a sense of magnificence. Within the silhouette are images of a Muller’s barbet, Green Island, and a tree frog, which represent Taiwan’s bio-diversity. The lower part of the sheet features the enormous eastern peak of Mount Hohuan. And a Formosan rock-monkey sitting atop the mountain lends the sheet a fun and lively air. To give this souvenir sheet an interesting twist, the two stamps featured in this sheet—“Green Island” and “Formosan Rock-Monkey”— have circular shapes. Designer: Hung-tu Ko Printer: Cardon Enterprise Co., Ltd. Size of stamp: 38mm diameter Perforation: 13 1/2   No. 4: Taiwan Technology Emphasizing Taiwan’s development of cutting-edge technology, the design of this souvenir sheet celebrates the electronic and digital information era and two industries in particular: wafers and biotech, which are the focuses of the ROC government’s “Two Trillion, Twin Stars Development Plan.” Each of these industries has a stamp devoted to it on the sheet. In the center of the sheet is a collage featuring a large lower-case “e” and images that are associated with high-tech in Taiwan, including wafers, biotech, fiber optics and electronics. These are set against a background collage that features images of computers, digital symbols and integrated circuits to convey the diversity of high-tech development in Taiwan. An image of the earth is cleverly inserted into the inner edge of the “e,” conveying the “international links and global logistics” of Taiwan’s technology industry.   Designer: Hsu Shei-hung Printer: Cardon Enterprise Co., Ltd. Size of stamp: 37 x 29 or 29 x 37 (mm) Perforation: 13 1/2 x 13 or 13 x 13 1/2   No. 5 Taiwan Flowers and Fruits Taiwan is an island with plenty of sunshine all year round as well as a variety of climate and topography all over the island. It is a suitable place to plant many fruits from tropical, subtropical and warm areas. And thus, Taiwan has earned its international reputation as a “kingdom of fruits.” Due to long-term research for the improvement of flower plants dedicated by agricultural experts, flowers in Taiwan are also well-known all over the world. To demonstrate the diversity of Taiwan’s flowers and fruits, this souvenir sheet was designed with two triangular stamps pointing in opposite directions. One of the stamps frames a diverse selection of fruits packed into a bamboo basket, which delicately combines belief, life and farm produce. With colorful flowers in bottom sections for rival demonstration, the other frames azalea, the harbinger of spring.   Designer: Hung-tu Ko, Yung-hua Hsu Printer: Cardon Enterprise Co., Ltd. Size of stamp: 52 x 32/2 (mm) Perforation: 13 1/2     No. 6: Taiwan Festivals The upper part of the souvenir sheet is adorned with a ceremonial parasol, emphasizing the festive atmosphere of the souvenir sheet. The focus of the lower part of the sheet is a magnificent King’s Boat, with the different shading of the ocean and sky lending perspective to the image. The two featured stamps—“The Ear Shooting Ceremony” and “The Dragon Boat Race”—are placed in the center of the sheet. The Ear Shooting Ceremony is an important ceremony of the Bunun people. Apart from making offerings to their ancestors and praying for a great harvest for the coming year, the Bunun use the ceremony to pass along their hunting spirit and even hunting skills. Led by elders, men of the tribe shoot arrows at deer ears. Dragon boat rowing was aimed at worshipping the water god in an effort to pray for its blessings and avoid calamities. Today, rowing dragon boats has become one of the most popular folk activities during the “Duanwu Festival.”   Designer: Hung-tu Ko, Yu-wen Chen Printer: Cardon Enterprise Co., Ltd. Size of stamp: 40 ×30 or 30×40（mm） Perforation: 13 1/2     No. 7: Taiwan Cuisine Chinese culture places particular emphasis on food and drink, and Chinese cuisine is famous all over the world. This souvenir sheet features an array of diverse and representative dishes of Taiwan, including traditional fare made from rice and flour, as well as some elaborate banquet dishes. Enlivening the design, this souvenir sheet features bamboo steamers used as serving trays for one delicacy after another. Representing the great range of food in Taiwan, traditional rice cakes and the banquet dish “Buddha Jumping over the Wall” have been chosen as the subjects of the two stamps. The steam emerging from under the lids invites one’s hunger.   Designer: Hung-tu Ko, Ssu-ying Lin Printer: China Color Printing Co., Ltd. Size of stamp: 40×30（mm） Perforation: 12   No. 8: Taiwan Ocean Life Taiwan is surrounded by water on all sides and is very rich in ocean resources. Under the sea, there are coral reefs, tropical fish and all manner of colorful sea creatures sparkling like jewels in the blue ocean. The upper part of the sheet features a rugged little island amid the azure ocean; the lower part reveals a colorful ocean world: a coral reef where life abounds. Providing special interest, the stamps will have oval shapes, featuring fiery red horny corals and yellow and blue striped royal empress angelfish, like a beautiful ocean picture.   Designer: Hung-tu Ko Printer: China Color Printing Co., Ltd. Size of stamp: 43mm (longest) x 33 (shortest) Perforation: 13