Scott No: 290-294
Serial number: S15
Values in set: 5
Date of issue: July 15, 1956
Denomination: 32 fen
Designer: Shao Bolin
Engraver: Gao Zhenyu, Song Guangzeng, Wu Pengyue, Kong Shaohui, Lin Wenyi, Li Manzeng
Size of stamps: 38.5*29mm
Perforation: 14
Sheet composition: 70(7*10)
Printing process: Engraving
Printing House: Beijing People's Printing Works

Issued on June 15, 1956, the complete set contains five engraved stamps, designed by Shao Bolin, engraved by Song Guangzeng, Wu Pengyue, Lin Wenyi, Gao Zhenyu, Kong Shaohui and Li Manceng, and printed by the Business Branch of Beijing People’s Printing Factory. Each stamp measures 38.5mm × 29mm, with a perforation gauge of 14 degrees. The full sheet holds 70 stamps in a 7×10 arrangement. The total face value of the set is 0.32 yuan. Summer Palace, 4 fen, circulation: 8 million. Beihai Park, 4 fen, circulation: 8 million. Tiananmen, 8 fen, circulation: 12 million. Temple of Heaven, 8 fen, circulation: 11 million. Hall of Supreme Harmony, 8 fen, circulation: 11 million. The set has no gum on the reverse. The original “Tiananmen with Radiating Rays” version was urgently recalled and destroyed after printing; only a tiny number had already entered circulation. A revised edition with a rosy dawn sky was reissued on February 20, 1957.

Main Theme of the Set

This set features five celebrated scenic sites in Beijing, including imperial gardens, ancient sacrificial altars and the iconic city gate tower, presenting the scenery of the capital through engraved stamp art. After the founding of New China, Beijing served as the nation’s political and cultural centre, preserving a wealth of precious ancient architectural heritage. Released by the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications, the set showcases the capital’s graceful landscapes and profound historic relics across the country. It is the earliest special stamp series dedicated exclusively to Beijing’s historic sites in New China.

Stamp Designs and Historical Background

Summer Palace

In rose-pink tones, the composition frames Kunming Lake and Wanshou Hill. Small boats drift gently on the water, while the Foxiang Pavilion stands halfway up the mountain in the distance. Lake and hills merge into one another, capturing the soft, picturesque waterscape of this grand Qing-dynasty imperial garden.

Beihai Park

Rendered in teal green, the design centres on the White Dagoba on Qionghua Island in Beihai. The lake stretches wide, willow trees line the banks, and the dagoba casts its reflection on the water. It depicts one of the most beloved classical lake-and-hill views of old Beijing, quiet and refined in mood.

Tiananmen

Set in orange-yellow hues, this is the revised reprint. The Tiananmen Rostrum stands solemn and stately beneath a soft rosy dawn, with the spacious square stretching out below, highlighting the majesty and dignity of the capital’s landmark building. The original design featured radiating rays in the sky; it was withdrawn for the well-known reason and has since become one of the most famous rarities in philatelic history.

Temple of Heaven

Against a deep blue background stands the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests. Its elegant triple-eaved pyramidal roof and dignified silhouette exemplify the superb craftsmanship of traditional Chinese ritual architecture built for ancient heaven-worshipping ceremonies.

Hall of Supreme Harmony

Painted in warm brownish yellow, the stamp portrays the Hall of Supreme Harmony in the Forbidden City, commonly known as the Golden Throne Hall. The edifice rises towering above its broad platform, the central palace hall of the Ming and Qing imperial courts and the pinnacle of ancient Chinese palace architecture.

Artistic Features

All five horizontal engraved stamps carry distinct colour schemes, arranged sequentially in rose, teal, orange, deep blue and brown, lending the whole set an elegant and delicate aesthetic. Fine engraving balances architectural accuracy with lyrical landscape charm; pavilions, terraces and rippling water are rendered with meticulous detail. This represents an early classic by Shao Bolin. Due to the legendary story of the “Tiananmen with Radiating Rays” variety, it enjoys extraordinary fame among vintage special stamps, combining scenic beauty, architectural documentary value and a remarkable philatelic legend.