Taizhou, Jiangsu releases stamp albums celebrating the 130th anniversary of the birth of Mei Lanfang. [Photo/Taizhou Daily]

On Nov 11, Ana Paula de Souza Lima, a student from Sao Paulo State University in Brazil, was overjoyed to learn that a special commemorative gift honoring the 130th birth anniversary of Peking Opera master Mei Lanfang had been sent to her from Taizhou, Jiangsu.

Born in Porto Alegre, Brazil's second-largest southern city, Lima developed a deep interest in Chinese culture and began studying Chinese at a Confucius Institute. Her growing fascination with Peking Opera, particularly Mei's performances, led her to follow commemoration.

To honor Mei's 130th birth anniversary, Taizhou, the ancestral home of Mei, released a short video series in October, which Lima eagerly shared and engaged with online. When the city launched a set of commemorative postal items on Oct 22, Lima expressed her interest in acquiring them. Moved by her passion, the Taizhou Philatelic Federation gave her the collection.

"I feel deeply honored and thrilled to receive this precious gift from Taizhou," Lima wrote in her email upon hearing the news. "Words can't fully express my joy. I'm eager to help more people learn about Taizhou and Mei's remarkable legacy. In Brazil, more and more people are becoming interested in Chinese culture daily."