Scott No: 3124-07
Serial number: 2001-14
Values in set: 4
Denomination: 500 fen
Date of issue: 5th August 2001
Designer: Zhen Mingshu and Yin Huili
Size of stamps: 50*30 mm
Perforation: 12
Sheet composition: 16
Printing process: offset
Printer: Henan Post & Telecommmunication Printing Works

This stamp set, Beidaihe, was issued on August 5, 2001. It is a special stamp set consisting of four stamps with a total face value of 5.00 yuan. The designers are Zhen Mingshu and Yin Huili. It was printed using offset printing by Henan Post and Telecommunications Printing Factory. The perforation gauge is 12 degrees, and each stamp measures 50×30 mm.

This stamp set features four iconic seaside landscapes of Beidaihe in Qinhuangdao, Hebei. Using a printmaking style, it showcases the scenery of Beidaihe where mountains and sea meet, presenting the natural beauty and coastal cultural character of this famous summer resort and displaying the beautiful coastal scenic spots along the Bohai Sea.

Stamp Designs and Historical Background

Pigeon Nest

Pigeon Nest, also known as Eagle Horn Rock, is located at the easternmost end of the Beidaihe seaside and is a well-known spot for watching the sunrise over the sea. Huge rock cliffs stand by the sea, and the Eagle Horn Pavilion is built on top of the cliff. It is named Pigeon Nest because wild pigeons used to nest in the rock crevices. In the early morning, the red sun leaps from the sea, and the glow spreads across the blue waters. "Watching the sunrise at Eagle Horn" is the most famous scene in Beidaihe. The stamp depicts the seaside cliffs, the Eagle Horn Pavilion, and the surging blue sea, fully displaying the majestic and magnificent character of the coastal reefs.

Zhonghai Beach

Zhonghai Beach is located along the central part of the Beidaihe seaside and is the core area of Beidaihe's coastal scenery. With its long golden beach and clear water, colorful sun umbrellas are set up on the sand, and visitors enjoy the waves and leisure, making it a classic scene of a seaside vacation. Zhonghai Beach has a gentle slope and fine sand, making it a natural seaside bathing beach. The stamp shows the blue sea and golden sand, with tourists playing in the water and resting, enhancing the relaxed and bright summer vacation atmosphere of the seaside bathing beach.

Lianfeng Mountain

Lianfeng Mountain is located on the western side of the Beidaihe seaside. Its mountain ranges rise and fall in continuous waves, with dense pines and cypresses. It is named Lianfeng (Linked Peaks) because the mountain bodies are connected, and it is also called Lotus Mountain. The mountain is lush with trees and dotted with historical sites such as the Pine Waves Pavilion and the Sea View Pavilion. From the summit, visitors can overlook the entire Beidaihe seaside and the Bohai Sea, with mountain forests and coastal scenery integrated. Since modern times, many rest villas have been built here, making it an important mountain forest convalescence area in Beidaihe. The stamp depicts green mountains, the bay, and white sails, with mountain forests and blue sea complementing each other, serene and peaceful.

Tiger Rocks

Tiger Rocks are located on the southern coast of Zhonghai Beach in Beidaihe. Several huge reefs are scattered in the sea, and their shapes resemble a group of crouching tigers, which is how they got the name Tiger Rocks. At high tide, the reefs are half-submerged; at low tide, they are fully exposed. The reef group has a vigorous and ancient form. This sea area has surging waves and is a great place for viewing the sea and admiring the reefs. The stamp depicts the variously shaped Tiger Rocks by the sea, with sails dotting the water, showcasing the rugged and lively coastal scenery of the reef coast.

Artistic and Design Features

The stamp set uses a decorative printmaking art style. The lines are clear and lively, with high color saturation. Blue, green, and gold tones are used to represent the sea, beach, and mountain forests. The four stamps present Beidaihe from four different angles: cliffs, beach, mountain forest, and sea reefs. Each scenic spot has its own characteristics, and the images share a unified style. The printmaking texture combines decorative beauty with regional characteristics, condensing the mountain and sea scenery of this summer resort on the coast of the Bohai Sea into the stamps.