China - Liaoning/Jilin/Heilongjiang - Harbin–Suifenhe Railway

The international train from Grodekovo to Suifenhe which serviced by Russian Railway is running in the border section in Harbin-Suifenhe Railway. Because of the different railway gauge between China and Russia, four rails constitute a special sight.

Sent by Weining from Shanghai, China.

The Trans-Siberian Harbin–Suifenhe railway, named the Binsui Railway (simplified Chinese: 滨绥铁路; traditional Chinese: 濱綏鐵路; pinyin: bīnsuí tiělù), is a double-track electrified trunk railway in Northeast China between Harbin and Suifenhe on the Russian border. The line was originally built by Russia as the eastern branch of the Chinese Eastern Railway, which linked Chita with Vladivostok. Today, the 548 km (341 mi) railway is administered by Harbin Railway Bureau.

Initial construction of the Binsui Railway as a Russian gauge line of the Sino-Russian Chinese Eastern Railway started on 9 June 1898 at the two termini of the line, Harbin in China and Ussuriysk in Russia. The partially built line was destroyed during the Boxer Rebellion between March and July 1900, causing the project to be suspended. Construction resumed in October, and on 14 November 1901 operation on a temporary basis was started. Official opening of the line took place on 14 July 1903 (read more).

Hong Kong - Night View From The Peak

Night View From The Peak

Sent by Henning from Hong Kong.

China - Anhui Province - Ancient Villages in Southern Anhui – Xidi and Hongcun

Qiankou Dwellings (Ming Dynasty) / Huangshan City

Anhui Dwellings

Sent by Ting from Shenyang, China.

Xidi and Hongcun are two outstanding traditional villages, located in Yi County, Huangshan City in south Anhui Province, with commercial activities as their primary source of income, family and clan-based social organization, and well known for their regional culture. The overall layout, landscape, architectural form, decoration, and construction techniques all retain the original features of Anhui villages between the 14th and 20th centuries.

Deeply influenced by the traditional culture of pre-modern Anhui Province, these two villages, Xidi and Hongcun, were built by successful officials or merchants returning home from official appointments and business, and gradually developed into models of conventional Chinese village construction. Xidi is surrounded by mountains and built along and between three streams running east-west, which converge at the Huiyuan Bridge to the south. Hongcun is located at the foot of a hill next to a stream which forms two pools, the Moon Pond in the centre of the village and the other to the south. Characterised by rhythmic space variation and tranquil alleyways; and with water originating from a picturesque garden, the whole reflects the pursuit of coexistence, unity and the harmony of man and nature. The unique and exquisite style of Anhui buildings is conveyed in plain and elegant colors, their gables decorated with delicate and elegant carvings, their interiors filled with tasteful furnishings. The rigid patriarchal system together with gentle and sincere folk customs reflects the cultural ideas of scholar-bureaucrats in feudal society who paid special respect to Confucianism and Neo-Confucianism. These surviving villages bear scientific, cultural and aesthetic values with their 600-plus-year history. They are rich sources for the study of regional histories and cultures (read more).

Malaysia - Federal Territory (Kuala Lumpur) - Masjid Wilayah Persekutuan

Wilayah Persekutuan Mosque (Federal Territory Mosque)

Sent by Mahani from Selangor, Malaysia.

The Federal Territory Mosque (Malay: Masjid Wilayah Persekutuan) is a Sunni mosque, located in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The mosque is situated near MATRADE complex and the Federal Government Complex off Jalan Tuanku Abdul Halim, in the Segambut district.

The Kuala Lumpur Mosque was constructed between 1998 and 2000. It is situated on a 5-hectare (12-acre) site near the Government Office Complex along Jalan Duta. The Wilayah Persekutuan (Federal Territory) Mosque was opened to the public on 25 October 2000 and was officiated by the 12th Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin ibni Almarhum Syed Putra Jamalulail on 18 February 2005. It is the 44th mosque built by the Government within the city limits. The mosque can accommodate 17,000 worshippers at any one time (read more).

150 Years of Universal Postal Union (UPU) - Latvia Post (Latvijas Pasts)

Sent by Olga from Latvia.

Postcrossing Meetup #18 - Point Roberts, Washington

Point Roberts, Washington, USA.

Pene-exclave community.

9th August 2025

Sent by Alisa from Oregon, USA.

Point Roberts is a pene-exclave of the US state of Washington on the southernmost tip of the Tsawwassen peninsula, south of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. The area, which had a population of 1,191 at the 2020 census, is reached from the rest of the United States by traveling 25 mi (40 km) through Canada, or without passing through Canada by boat or private airplane. It is a census-designated place in Whatcom County, Washington, with a post office, and a ZIP Code of 98281. Direct sea and air connections with the rest of the U.S. are available across Boundary Bay (read more).

Germany - Baden-Württemberg - Schwäbisch Hall

A collage of images from the German city of Schwäbisch Hall.

Sent by Peter from Schwäbisch Hall, Germany.

Schwäbisch Hall (German pronunciation: [ˌʃvɛːbɪʃ ˈhal]; 'Swabian Hall'; from 1802 until 1934 and colloquially: Hall) is a city in the German state of Baden-Württemberg located in the valley of the Kocher river, the longest tributary (together with its headwater Lein) of the Neckar river. The closest larger city is Heilbronn, and Schwäbisch Hall lies north-east of the state capital of Stuttgart. It is the seat of the district (Landkreis) of Schwäbisch Hall.

Unlike its name might suggest, Schwäbisch Hall lies in the region of Heilbronn-Franconia, the East Franconian-speaking northeasternmost part of Baden-Württemberg, which is culturally and linguistically more closely related to the adjoining region of Franconia in neighbouring Bavaria than to the Alemannic-speaking regions of Württemberg, Baden, Switzerland, Bavarian Swabia, Vorarlberg, Alsace and Liechtenstein.

The city's main landmarks are the market square with St Michael's Church (St. Michaelskirche), Comburg Castle (a former Benedictine monastery) with St Nicholas' Church (St. Nikolaus und St. Maria), and the Hallian-Franconian Museum (Hällisch-Fränkisches Museum), dedicated to the art and history of Schwäbisch Hall and surrounding Heilbronn-Franconia.

Schwäbisch Hall was a Free Imperial City within the Holy Roman Empire for five centuries until it was annexed by Württemberg in 1802 (read more).

Germany - Rhineland-Palatinate - Dreifaltigkeitskirche (Holy Trinity Church)

Dreifaltigkeitskirche (Holy Trinity Church) located at the market square in Worms, Germany.

Sent by Markus from Worms, Germany.

The Holy Trinity Church (German: Dreifaltigkeitskirche), full name Reformation Memorial Church of the Holy Trinity (German: Reformations-Gedächtniskirche zur Heiligen Dreifaltigkeit) is the largest Protestant church in Worms. The baroque hall building is centrally located on the market square of the city and is now under conservation (read more).

Germany - Thuringia - Erfurt (2)

Various landmarks and locations in Erfurt, Germany.

Sent by Lutz from Erfurt, Germany.

This is my second from Erfurt. My first is here.

Rendezvous in the Heart of Germany

Welcome to the city of flowers and horticulture, the city where Martin Luther lived and studied, and the location of a number of historical Jewish sites. 

Discover the Krämerbrücke, the impressive ensemble of the Cathedral of St Mary and St Severus Church, the Augustinian Monastery, the Old Synagogue with the Erfurt Treasure, the egapark Erfurt, and much more. Walk in the footsteps of historical figures and learn all about the city’s museums and galleries (read more).

Marilyn Monroe (6)

Iconic American actress Marilyn Monroe wearing a striking red dress. The specific moment is known for a story where she was criticized by a jounalist for looking "cheap and vulgar" in the dress at a 1951 party.

Sent by Tatyana from Syzran, Russia.

Swimwear #18

From It's Cool : One Hundred Postcards, published by Chronicle Chroma, 2019.

Sent by Mazz from Selangor, Malaysia.

Egypt - Ancient Egypt

Illustrated map of Ancient Egypt detailing major sites and cultural elements, highlighting key landmarks along the Nile River, including cities like Cairo, Abydos, and Aswan, as well as sites such as the Pyramids of Giza, Amarna, and Abu SImbel.

I bought this postcard during my trip to Egypt in early September 2025. Due to my tight programs, and the unavailability of stamps at some Post Offices, I did not mail any postcards from Egypt.

Ancient Egypt was a cradle of civilization concentrated along the lower reaches of the Nile River in Northeast Africa. It emerged from prehistoric Egypt around 3150 BC (according to conventional Egyptian chronology), when Upper and Lower Egypt were amalgamated by Menes, who is believed by the majority of Egyptologists to have been the same person as Narmer. The history of ancient Egypt unfolded as a series of stable kingdoms interspersed by the "Intermediate Periods" of relative instability. These stable kingdoms existed in one of three periods: the Old Kingdom of the Early Bronze Age; the Middle Kingdom of the Middle Bronze Age; or the New Kingdom of the Late Bronze Age.

The pinnacle of ancient Egyptian power was achieved during the New Kingdom, which extended its rule to much of Nubia and a considerable portion of the Levant. After this period, Egypt entered an era of slow decline. Over the course of its history, it was invaded or conquered by a number of foreign civilizations, including the Hyksos, the Kushites, the Assyrians, the Persians, and the Greeks and then the Romans. The end of ancient Egypt is variously defined as occurring with the end of the Late Period during the Wars of Alexander the Great in 332 BC or with the end of the Greek-ruled Ptolemaic Kingdom during the Roman conquest of Egypt in 30 BC. In AD 642, the Arab conquest of Egypt brought an end to the region's millennium-long Greco-Roman period (read more).

Egypt - Tutankhamun

Mask of Tutankhamun, one of the most famous artifacts from ancient Egypt.

I bought this postcard during my trip to Egypt in early September 2025. Due to my tight programs, and the unavailability of stamps at some Post Offices, I did not mail any postcards from Egypt.

Tutankhamun or Tutankhamen (Ancient Egyptian: twt-ꜥnḫ-jmn; c. 1341 BC – c. 1323 BC), was the thirteenth pharaoh of the Eighteenth Dynasty of ancient Egypt, who ruled c. 1333 – 1323 BC. Born Tutankhaten, he instituted the restoration of the traditional polytheistic form of ancient Egyptian religion, undoing a previous shift to the religion known as Atenism. Tutankhamun's reign is considered one of the greatest restoration periods in ancient Egyptian history, and his tomb door proclaims his dedication to illustrative constructions of the ancient Egyptian gods.

His endowments and restorations of cults were recorded on the Restoration Stela. The cult of the god Amun at Thebes was restored to prominence, and the royal couple changed their names to "Tutankhamun" and "Ankhesenamun", replacing the -aten suffix. He also moved the royal court from Akhenaten's capital, Amarna, back to Memphis almost immediately on his accession to the kingship. He reestablished diplomatic relations with the Mitanni and carried out military campaigns in Nubia and the Near East. Tutankhamun was one of only a few kings known to be worshipped as a deity during their lifetime. He likely began construction of a royal tomb in the Valley of the Kings and an accompanying mortuary temple, but both were unfinished at the time of his death.

Tutankhamun died unexpectedly aged about 18; his health and the cause of his death have been the subject of much debate. In 2012, it was suggested he died from a combination of malaria and a leg fracture. Since his royal tomb was incomplete, he was instead buried in a small non-royal tomb adapted for the purpose. He was succeeded by his vizier Ay, who was probably an old man when he became king, and had a short reign. Ay was succeeded by Horemheb, who had been the commander-in-chief of Tutankhamun's armed forces. Under Horemheb, the restoration of the traditional ancient Egyptian religion was completed; Ay and Tutankhamun's constructions were usurped, and earlier Amarna Period rulers were erased.

Tutankhamun's tomb was discovered in 1922 by excavators led by Howard Carter and his patron, George Herbert, 5th Earl of Carnarvon. Although it had clearly been raided and robbed in ancient times, it retained much of its original contents, including the king's undisturbed mummy. The discovery received worldwide press coverage; with over 5,000 artifacts, it gave rise to renewed public interest in ancient Egypt, for which Tutankhamun's mask, preserved at the Egyptian Museum, remains a popular symbol. Before it was relocated to the Grand Egyptian Museum in 2025, some of his treasures have traveled worldwide, with unprecedented response; the Egyptian government allowed tours of the tomb beginning in 1961. The deaths of some individuals who were involved in the excavation have been popularly attributed to the "curse of the pharaohs" due to the similarity of their circumstances. Since the discovery of his tomb, he has been referred to colloquially as "King Tut" (read more).

Egypt - Saint Catherine Area

EGYPT

The Monastery of Mount Sinai - St. Catherine

I bought this postcard during my trip to Egypt in early September 2025. Due to my tight programs, and the unavailability of stamps at some Post Offices, I did not mail any postcards from Egypt.

The Orthodox Monastery of Saint Catherine stands at the foot of Mount Horeb where, the Old Testament records, Moses received the Tablets of the Law. The mountain is known and revered by Muslims as Jebel Musa. The entire area is sacred to three Monotheistic religions: Islam, Christianity, and Judaism. The Monastery, founded in the 6th century, is the oldest Christian monastery still in use for its initial function. Its walls and buildings are of great significance to studies of Byzantine architecture and the Monastery houses outstanding collections of early Christian manuscripts and icons. The rugged mountainous landscape around, containing numerous archaeological and religious sites and monuments, forms a perfect backdrop for the Monastery. Along the Path of Moses (Sikket Sayidna Musa), leading to the summit of Mount Moses, there are two arches, the Gate of Stephen and the Gate of the Law and the remains of chapels, while the Holy Summit itself is an important archaeological site with a mosque and chapel.

Saint Catherine Area is of immense spiritual significance to three world monotheistic religions: Christianity, Islam, and Judaism. Saint Catherine’s is one of the very early outstanding Christian monasteries in the world, and has retained its monastic function without a break from its foundation in the 6th century. The Byzantine walls protect a group of buildings of great importance both for the study of Byzantine architecture and in Christian spiritual terms. The complex also contains some exceptional examples of Byzantine art and houses outstanding collections of manuscripts and icons. Its siting demonstrates a deliberate attempt to establish an intimate bond between natural beauty and remoteness on the one hand and human spiritual commitment on the other (read more).

Egypt - Sinai Peninsula

EGYPT

Sinai

I bought this postcard during my trip to Egypt in early September 2025. Due to my tight programs, and the unavailability of stamps at some Post Offices, I did not mail any postcards from Egypt.

The Sinai Peninsula, or simply Sinai (/ˈsaɪnaɪ/ SY-ny; Arabic: سيناء, romanized: Sīnāʾ, Egyptian Arabic: سينا, romanized: Sīna), is a peninsula in Egypt, and the only part of the country located in Asia. It is between the Mediterranean Sea to the north and the Red Sea to the south, and is a land bridge between Asia and Africa. Sinai has a land area of about 60,000 km² (23,000 sq mi) (6 percent of Egypt's total area) and a population of approximately 600,000 people. Administratively, the vast majority of the area of the Sinai Peninsula is divided into two governorates: the South Sinai Governorate and the North Sinai Governorate. Three other governorates span the Suez Canal, crossing into African Egypt: Suez Governorate on the southern end of the Suez Canal, Ismailia Governorate in the center, and Port Said Governorate in the north.

In the classical era, the region was known as Arabia Petraea. The peninsula acquired the name Sinai in modern times due to the assumption that a mountain near Saint Catherine's Monastery is the Biblical Mount Sinai. Mount Sinai is one of the most religiously significant places in the Abrahamic faiths (read more).

Egypt - Marsa Alam

EGYPT

Marsa Alam.

I bought this postcard during my trip to Egypt in early September 2025. Due to my tight programs, and the unavailability of stamps at some Post Offices, I did not mail any postcards from Egypt.

Marsa Alam (Arabic: مَرْسَىٰ عَلَم Marsā ʿAlam [ˈmæɾsæ ˈʕælæm], Classical Arabic lit. 'Anchorage Mountain') is a tourist town in south-eastern Egypt, located on the western shore of the Red Sea. It is described as a "popular" tourist destination. Marsa Alam is a relatively recently built town; its development began in 1995 through the investments of the Kuwaiti Al-Kharafi Group, which established the town and its initial facilities, resorts and infrastructure. Its growth was accelerated by the opening of Marsa Alam International Airport in 2003. Due to its crystal clear water and its white sandy beaches, it is also known as the "Egyptian Maldives."

The region covers an area of 38,433 km² and sits at an elevation of approximately 60 meters above sea level. It is located 274 km south of Hurghada and 134 km south of Qusayr. It is inhabited by about 11,497 residents.

Despite being over 135 miles (217 km) north of the tropical zone, the city experiences a tropical hot desert climate (Köppen: BWh), with steadier temperatures than places to the north such as Hurghada and Sharm el Sheikh. Among major Egyptian cities and resorts, Marsa Alam, Kosseir and Sharm el-Sheikh have the warmest nighttime temperatures. Average maximum temperatures during January typically range from 22 to 25 °C (72 to 77 °F) and in August 33 to 40 °C (91 to 104 °F) (read more).

Egypt - Dahab Blue Hole

EGYPT

The Read Sea

Blue Hole Dahab

I bought this postcard during my trip to Egypt in early September 2025. Due to my tight programs, and the unavailability of stamps at some Post Offices, I did not mail any postcards from Egypt.

The Blue Hole is a diving location on the southeast Sinai, a few kilometres north of Dahab, Egypt on the coast of the Red Sea.

The Blue Hole is a blue hole, with a maximum depth within the hole of just over 100 m (328 feet). There is a shallow opening to the sea around 6 m (20 feet) deep, known as "the saddle", and a 26 m (85 feet) long tunnel, known as "the Arch", whose ceiling is at a depth of 55 m (181 feet) and whose bottom falls away as it reaches the seaward side to about 120 m (394 feet). On the seaward side the floor drops steeply to over 1,000 metres (3,300 ft). The hole and the surrounding area have an abundance of coral and reef fish. The Blue Hole is popular for freediving because of the depth directly accessible from shore and the lack of current.

The dive site is reputed to have the most diver fatalities in the world with estimates of between 130 and 200 fatalities in recent years (read more).