Scott No: 2876-79
Serial number: 1998-16
Values in set: 3
Souvenir sheet: 1
Date of issue: July 24, 1998
Designers: Ma Lian; Dan Sen
Size of stamp: 50*30mm
Size of S/S: 140*80 mm
Size of S/S stamp: 60*40 mm
Perforation: 12
Sheet composition: 40
Printing process: offset

The special stamp set Xilin Gol Grassland, catalog number 1998-16, was issued on July 24, 1998. It consists of three stamps and one souvenir sheet, produced using offset printing. The stamps measure 50×30 mm, with a perforation gauge of 12 degrees. Each sheet contains 40 stamps. The souvenir sheet stamp measures 60×40 mm, and the souvenir sheet measures 140×80 mm. The stamps were designed by Ma Lian and Dan Sen and printed by Shenyang Post and Telecommunications Printing Factory in Liaoning Province.

This stamp set features the Xilin Gol Grassland in central Inner Mongolia. It is China's first grassland nature reserve to be included in the International Network of Biosphere Reserves, preserving a complete temperate primary grassland ecosystem. The stamps feature three different types of grassland landscapes, along with the meandering river scenery of the souvenir sheet, showcasing the diverse natural forms of the vast grassland, reflecting the unique ecological value of the northern grassland, raising public awareness of grassland ecological protection, and displaying the homeland where the Mongolian people have lived and multiplied for generations.

Stamp Designs and Historical Background

Typical Grassland

The image shows the vast and gentle typical temperate grassland. Volcanic plateaus are visible in the distance, with green grass stretching to the horizon and sheep scattered across the fields. Typical grassland is the most widely distributed vegetation type in Xilin Gol. The terrain is open, and the pasture is lush. It is the core area of traditional nomadism.

Meadow Grassland

The design features meadow grassland on rolling hills. Flowers and grasses flourish, and green grassy slopes extend layer by layer, dotted with yurts. Meadow grassland has better moisture conditions and rich plant species. Flower seas and pastoral dwellings blend together, fully displaying the vibrant summer scene of the grassland.

Poplar-Birch Mixed Forest

The image presents a poplar-birch mixed forest in the mountains, with birches and poplars growing alternately, rich in autumn atmosphere. Forest patches form on the shady slopes of the grassland mountains. This is a special forest landscape within the grassland ecosystem, forming a transition zone between grassland and forest and providing habitat for wild animals.

Souvenir Sheet: Xilin Gol River Meander

The Xilin River winds across the grassland, with the river channel meandering and stretching out, forming a beautiful river meander landscape. The river water flows like a ribbon through the green land, and cattle and sheep graze along the river. It is the most iconic classic landscape of Xilin Gol, fully displaying the expansive and ethereal character of the grassland.

Artistic and Design Features

The stamp set uses a decorative painting style. The colors are fresh and soft, using large areas of green to represent the grassland, with clean and bright images. The three stamps present grassland, meadow, and forest in sequence, transitioning from open flat land to mountain woodland, fully displaying the vegetation gradient of Xilin Gol. The souvenir sheet uses a bird's-eye view, highlighting the beauty of the river's curves. The border is decorated with traditional Mongolian cloud patterns, ingeniously integrating the natural scenery of the grassland with ethnic decorative elements.