Scott No: 3419
Serial number: 2005-2
Values in set: 2
Denomination: 380 fen
Date of issue: January 7, 2005
Designer: Fang Jun
Size of stamps: 40*30 mm
Perforation: 12
Sheet composition: 8(2 sets)
Printing process: Photogravure
Printer: Henan Postage Stamp Printing House

This stamp set was issued on January 8, 2005. It consists of two stamps with a total face value of 1.60 yuan, designed by Fang Jun, with Zhao Lei serving as the responsible editor, and printed by Henan Post and Telecommunications Printing Factory using offset printing.

The West-East Gas Pipeline is a landmark inter-regional energy artery in China, stretching from the Tarim Basin in Xinjiang in the west to the Yangtze River Delta region in the east. It transports abundant natural gas resources from the west to energy-scarce areas in the east, optimizing the national energy structure, improving air quality in cities along the route, and promoting coordinated economic development between the eastern and western regions. This stamp set commemorates the completion of this monumental project.

Stamp Designs and Historical Background

Gas Source Development

The stamp depicts an oil and gas field operation in the western Gobi, with towering drilling equipment standing on the vast desert landscape. The expansive Gobi background represents the natural gas resource base in the west, the source of the entire energy pipeline.

Pipeline Construction

The stamp shows continuous gas pipelines crossing mountains, rivers, and vast landscapes, with modern compressor stations along the route. The pipelines span the Gobi, valleys, and towns, traversing the country from west to east, delivering clean energy to eastern cities, showcasing the grand scale of the energy transmission system.

Artistic and Design Features

The horizontal format features a realistic and grand style, with warm and cool tones used to distinguish the two scenes. The offset printing provides rich and solid colors, and the overall composition is vast and powerful. The stamps incorporate anti-counterfeiting features such as security paper, security ink, and fluorescent spray codes, conveying the strength and significance of this major engineering project.

This stamp set is a commemorative issue on the theme of national energy infrastructure, suitable for thematic collections on major engineering projects and energy construction.