Campus Map of Peking University

In celebration of the Homecoming Day for Peking University's alumni, and the 118th university's anniversary, today's featured postcard was a private swap from China, showing a hand-painted campus map of Peking University (北京大学) on a shaped card. Found in 1898, it is a major Chinese research university located near the Summer Palace in Beijing.

The university moved to the current site in 1952, the former campus of Yenching University, It was the site of royal imperial gardens in the Qing Dynasty. On the map, you can see many historical structures such as the West Gate, beautiful natural landscape such as the Weiming Lake, as well as the academic buildings such as the library.

America Loves Wills and Kate

The Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton, and Prince William are celebrating their fourth wedding anniversary today on April 29, 2015. The royal couple are waiting the birth of their second child who is reportedly due in the second half of April; and now it's almost May.

Postcard US-3014303 to Singapore shows William and Kate shared their first public kiss as husband and wife on the Buckingham Palace’s balcony after their wedding ceremony at Westminster Abbey on April 29, 2011.

Basilica of Superga

Postcard IT-288254 from Italy shows the Basilica of Superga church near Turin, Italy. Built from 1717 to 1731 for Victor Amadeus II of Savoy and located at the top of the hill of Superga, the church was designed by Italian architect and designer Filippo Juvarra in late Baroque style. Under the church, the Royal Crypt of the Basilica of Superga is the burial place of the House of Savoy, one of the oldest royal families in the world,

Mount Nemrut, Adıyaman, Turkey

Postcard TR-197954 from Turkey shows Mount Nemrut near Adıyaman in southeastern Turkey, a presumed royal tomb site built by King Antiochus I Theos of Commagene in 62 B.C. At its 2,134 m or 7,001 ft summit, there are a number of large statues with their heads separated and scattered throughout the site. Mount Nemrut was recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987.

Elephant Stables in Hampi, India

Elephant Stables, Hampi, India

I received a postcard IN-54195 from India today. It shows a long building with a row of domed chambers where the ancient royal family housed their ceremonial elephants. Hampi, once the capital of Vijaynagar Empire from 1336 and 1565, is a ruined city. However, the elephant stables are among the few least damaged structures.  The ground in the front was a parade place for the elephants and troops. The domes and the arched gateways indicated the Islamic influences on the structure. Hampi is now listed as a "threatened" UNESCO World Heritage Site, due to heavy vehicular traffic and constructions nearby.