The Mystery Of The Disappearing Mailbox Antlers

2016/04/21

Chen Xiaoli

Do you remember the overnight star Bund mailbox we introduced earlier this month?

Pop singer Lu Han, once a member of million-selling Chinese-Korean boy band EXO, posted on his Weibo account a snap of him leaning on the postbox at the Bund in Shanghai on April 8.

Since then, the mailbox – the sole purpose of which prior to April 8 was to receive mails to be delivered, has become a tourist attraction.

Lu's fans have stood in up to a 300-meter-long queue past midnight for a Lu Han pose photo with the postbox.

Joining the fandom was the Shanghai Post which decided to celebrate Lu's birthday on April 20, by decorating the mailbox with two antlers and issuing exclusive postcards.

Lu Han's surname means “deer” in Chinese.

The antlers were installed on the mailbox at 11pm on April 19. You can see the new look of the mailbox in the picture below.

However, fans who thought a unique photo opportunity awaited them when they showed up at the mailbox on Zhongshan Rd E1 yesterday morning were deeply disappointed to find that the antlers had been removed.

Diehard Lu Han fan Xiao Ya, 18, told Shanghai Daily:

I came here to take a photo with the mailbox again, as I heard there would be antlers on it today, which is Lu Han’s birthday, so I think it would be a great way to celebrate it.

The official Weibo account of Shanghai Post gives the answer early morning on April 20:

Last night I was waiting for the perfect transformation of my mailbox. However, I never expected Chengguan officers to tell me that the decoration would be incompatible with the the Bund. After negotiation, we reached an agreement: Whether to dismantle the antlers or not will be decided the next day. However, when I woke up, there's nothing left. Where is the 'friend ship?'
Such being the case, I will persist in trying to convince the relevant departments. Come on!

It also said:

Even the Chengguan officers were jealous of my beauty. However, as a world-class 'web idol,' I will not easily 'go die.' Wait for my comeback. And please promise to me, from now on, you will take care of the animals and protect the nature. Don't eat velvet antlers any more, OK?

Li Qing, manager of China Post’s innovation department, said the city’s urban management authority and the police had told staffers that the antlers violated regulations.

We didn’t realize that it required special approval. However, as the glue was too strong, staffers failed to remove it from the mailbox then.

But they disappeared anyway, thanks to an unknown person who ripped them off in the middle of the night.

Most of the Chinese netizens were so sad and asked for the comeback of the cute antlers.

Fortunately, the exclusive postcards were issued as scheduled.

Nearly 8,000 of the commemorative limited edition cards were sold yesterday for 5 yuan (77 US cents) each.

China Post said it is planning similar mailboxes in future.

Li Qing told Shanghai Daily:

We will continue to unveil more themed mailboxes in the city. But future decorations will be in line with regulations.

Most Read

The Mystery Of The Disappearing Mailbox Antlers

Email this to your friend