Scott No: 3215-17
Serial number:2002-15
Values in set: 3
Denomination: 3.60 yuan
Date of issue: 15th July 2002
Designer: Wang Huming
Size of stamps: 40*30 mm
Perforation: 12
Sheet composition: 17
Printing process: offset
Printer: Henan Post & Telecommunication Printing Works

The stamp set is cataloged as 2002-15, titled Antarctic Scenery. It was issued on July 15, 2002. The set consists of three stamps in an offset edition printed by Henan Post and Telecommunications Printing Factory. The designer is Wang Huming, with photography by Xia Limin, Xue Guanchao, and Liu Xiaohan. The total face value is 3.6 yuan. Each stamp measures 40×30 mm, with a perforation gauge of 12 degrees. Each sheet contains 17 stamps.

Antarctica is the coldest and cleanest continent on Earth, with unique icefield landforms, polar wildlife, and rare celestial phenomena. It is also a key region for global climate research. China began Antarctic scientific expeditions in the 1980s and has since established multiple research stations. This stamp set features three representative landscapes of Antarctica, showcasing the unique natural scenery of the polar region, commemorating the achievements of China's Antarctic scientific research, and raising awareness of polar ecological protection.

Stamp Designs and Historical Background

Antarctic Icebergs

The main subject is a pair of emperor penguins, with a chick nestled beside the adult, set against the vast blue Southern Ocean and rolling white icebergs. Emperor penguins are iconic Antarctic animals, capable of breeding in temperatures dozens of degrees below zero. Icebergs are formed when the Antarctic ice sheet calves into the sea. They are massive and a unique polar landscape. Chinese Antarctic expedition members conduct ocean, glacier, and biological observations in iceberg areas year-round. This stamp shows the coexistence of polar life and the ice and snow world.

Antarctic Aurora

The stamp features a dark night sky as the background, with flowing, ethereal green auroras spanning the sky. Below, the outline of China's Zhongshan Station in Antarctica is visible. Auroras are fantastical celestial phenomena formed by the interaction of charged solar particles with Earth's magnetic field and upper atmosphere. They are frequently observed in the Antarctic Circle region. Zhongshan Station was completed in 1989 and is located in the Larsemann Hills of East Antarctica. It is an important base for China's atmospheric, astronomical, and geomagnetic observations in Antarctica. The aurora and the research station in the same frame combine polar celestial phenomena with scientific research.

Grove Mountains, Antarctica

The stamp shows the ice and snow mountains of the Grove Mountains region, with exposed rocks and ice interwoven on the ground, seabirds soaring in the sky, and expedition members and vehicles visible in the distance. The Grove Mountains are located in the interior of Antarctica and are a key area for China's Antarctic research. They contain a large number of meteorites and are an important site for Antarctic geological research. Chinese expedition members have repeatedly ventured deep into the Grove Mountains for arduous inland research. The stamp captures the polar mountain environment and research activities, highlighting the spirit of researchers who brave hardships to explore the polar regions.

Artistic and Design Features

The stamps use offset printing, with transparent color layers, reproducing the whiteness of the glaciers, the deep blue of the ocean, and the fluorescent quality of the auroras. The stamps use a horizontal format, with the images artistically processed based on actual research photographs. The three stamps present polar animals, auroral phenomena, and inland mountains in sequence, from ocean to inland, forming a complete Antarctic natural scroll. The color palette is cool and pure, highlighting the pristine and vast character of the Antarctic continent. The stamps integrate polar scenery, wildlife, and Chinese Antarctic research elements, showcasing the mysterious and magnificent beauty of this distant ice and snow continent.