Scott No: 2254-7
Serial number: J165
Values in set: 4
Date of issue: December 15, 1989
Denomination: 198 fen
Designers: Zhang Lei, Wang Yin, He Jie, Sun Yi
Size of stamps: 40*30mm
Perforation: 11*11.5
Sheet composition: 50 (5*10)
Printing process: Photogravure
Printing House: Beijing Postage Stamp Printing Works

J165 "The 11th Asian Games, Beijing 1990 (Series II)" commemorative stamps were issued on December 15, 1989. The set consists of 4 stamps, printed by photogravure, with a stamp size of 40 × 30 mm, perforation gauge 11 × 11.5, and 50 stamps per sheet (5 × 10). Designed by Zhang Lei, Wang Yinyin, He Jie, and Sun Yi, and printed by the Beijing Stamp Factory.

Theme of the Set

This group is the second series of stamps for the Beijing Asian Games, taking four core competition venues as its theme and showcasing the modern sports architecture newly built and renovated for the Asian Games. It reflects China's construction achievements in preparing to host its first comprehensive international games and bears witness to the design approach of Asian Games venues combining modern architectural technology with national style. Together with the first group (emblem and mascot) and the third group (competition events), it forms a complete series.

Stamp Designs and Historical Background

Beijing University Students' Gymnasium

The main subject of the design is the University Students' Gymnasium, whose roof is supported by four octagonal cylindrical columns. Its form draws on the style of traditional memorial archways, with a distinctive national flavor. The venue hosted the Asian Games basketball events.

North Suburb Swimming Hall (Yingdong Swimming Hall)

The image presents the streamlined architectural exterior of the North Suburb Swimming Hall. It was a professional swimming venue of leading scale in Asia at the time, built with funds donated by Mr. Henry Fok, and hosted swimming, diving, and other aquatic events.

Beijing Workers' Stadium

The image shows the elliptical Workers' Stadium, the main venue of these Asian Games, where both the opening and closing ceremonies were held. It can accommodate more than 70,000 spectators and is a well-known large-scale sports venue in China.

Chaoyang Gymnasium

The image shows the Chaoyang Gymnasium, which adopts a novel elliptical suspension-cable structure with a dynamic and unique form. It was used for volleyball events.

Artistic Design Features

The set adopts a realistic architectural rendering style, with each stamp using an elegant gradient background to set off the main venue and highlight the building's outline and structural features. The four venues have distinct forms, reflecting the diversified design exploration of large-scale sports architecture in China in the 1980s. The images are clean and orderly, dignified and imposing, and harmonize with the style of the entire Asian Games stamp series.