Commemorative postal products are released for the 95th anniversary of Mei Lanfang's debut in the United States. [Photo/ourjiangsu.com]

On Feb 17, 1930, Peking Opera master Mei Lanfang made his historic US debut on Broadway in New York. Ninety-five years later, on Feb 17, 2025, an international campaign was launched to commemorate the 95th anniversary of his tour, which included the release of a series of commemorative postal products. 

Mei's tour lasted 76 days, featuring 96 performances across six cities: Washington, New York, Chicago, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Honolulu. The international campaign will retrace his journey, marking key moments such as the premiere date in each city and highlighting the featured performances. The initiative will include English-language multimedia content such as articles, short videos, and posters to engage a global audience.

As part of the campaign, an AI-generated digital figure will be created to "perform" alongside Peking Opera artists and enthusiasts from Taizhou, showcasing Mei's artistry. Additionally, the event will extend discussions beyond the theater, inviting cultural scholars, drama experts, and international friends to explore the significance of Mei's tour in fostering cross-cultural exchanges and strengthening international friendships.

The commemorative postal collection consists of a set of two themed covers, with 2,000 editions issued. A special collector's album will also be released, featuring postage-paid postcards, colorful meter marks, commemorative coupons, personalized stamps, and joint China-US commemorative stamps, with 1,000 copies available.