Scott No: 3030-37
Serial number:2000-11
Values in set: 8
Denomination: 9.30 yuan
Date of issue: June 1, 2000
Designer: Lin Lifei, Wang Yumeng, Li Zhao, Chen Zhuo, Qin Tian, Wang Yiren, Tian Yuan, Song Lizhi
Size of stamps: 50*30 mm
Perforation: 12
Sheet composition: 12
Printing process: photogravure
Printer: Beijing Postage Stamp Printing House

The special stamp set Turn of the Century, Renewal of the Millennium – Prospects for the 21st Century was issued on June 1, 2000. It consists of eight stamps with a total face value of 11.60 yuan. It was designed by eight children and printed by Beijing Stamp Printing Works using the photogravure process. The stamps were issued on International Children's Day. All the artwork was selected from award-winning entries in a national children's painting competition, using children's perspectives to imagine the new century and express hopes for a better future.

At this important juncture of the turn of the century and the change of the millennium, children are the future and hope of the nation. The stamp set features eight children's paintings, depicting the 21st century in the children's minds from multiple angles, including science and technology, ecology, daily life, aerospace, and peace. Using innocent and romantic artistic language, it showcases young people's beautiful imagination of the future world and conveys the vision of peaceful development, scientific progress, and harmonious coexistence between humanity and nature.

Stamp Designs and Historical Background

Running Toward the New Century

The stamp depicts young people riding horses galloping forward, heading into the distance toward the rising sun. The horses symbolize progress, and the rising sun represents a new era. It expresses the young people's confidence in welcoming the new century and their striving spirit.

Joy and Peace

The stamp shows children from various countries holding hands, surrounded by white doves of peace. The white dove is a classic symbol of peace, symbolizing friendship among children of all nations and the hope for lasting human peace without conflict.

Protecting the Earth

The stamp depicts children guarding the blue Earth, with green trees surrounding their home. It expresses the children's emphasis on the ecological environment and their hope to cherish their homeland, protect the Earth, and achieve harmonious coexistence between humanity and nature.

Light of Science and Technology

The stamp features satellites, computers, and modern facilities, with young people in a technological setting. It shows children's imagination of modern information technology and aerospace technology and their vision of technology benefiting humanity in the future.

Crossing the New Century

In the stamp, young people drive a high-speed train speeding forward through mountains and rivers. It represents the rapid development of modern transportation, turning natural barriers into thoroughfares, reflecting the grand vision of transportation construction in the new era.

Heading into Space

The stamp depicts young people traveling in a spacecraft through space, gazing at the planets. It carries children's longing for the vast universe and their beautiful dream of humanity exploring deep space and advancing into the cosmos.

Creating a Better Future

The stamp shows young people holding paintbrushes, depicting a colorful homeland. It signifies that young people study diligently and think wisely, relying on their wisdom and hands to build a happy and beautiful new life.

Prosperity of the Motherland

The stamp features the national flag, flowers, and modern city buildings. It expresses young people's love for the motherland and their hope for the country's prosperity and strength.

Artistic and Design Features

The stamp set preserves the simple and innocent brushwork of children's paintings. The forms are free and lively, and the colors are bright and intense, full of childlike charm and imagination. The photogravure printing provides bright and saturated colors, effectively reproducing the vivid color texture of children's paintings. The eight paintings have different themes, covering peace, environmental protection, aerospace, transportation, and other diverse directions. They record the era's visions at the turn of the millennium from the unique perspective of young people. It is a distinctive and profoundly meaningful stamp set in the category of children's painting themes.