Serial number: 2009-17
Scott Number: -
Values in set: 2
Denomination: 240 fen
Date of issue: August 14, 2009
Size of stamp: 40 * 30 mm
Perforation: 13
Sheet composition: 16
Size of sheet: 200 * 190 mm
Printing process: photogravure
Designer of stamp: Guo Chenghui
Printer: Beijing Postage Stamp Printing House

On August 14, 2009, the special stamp "Stork Tower and Golden Gate" (catalog number 2009-17) was officially issued, as a joint issue between China Post and Ukraine's postal service. The set consists of two stamps, each with a face value of 1.20 yuan, for a total face value of 2.40 yuan. The stamps were designed by Guo Chenghui and printed by Beijing Stamp Printing Works using the photogravure process.

To enhance cultural exchange between China and Ukraine, and to showcase the classical architectural heritage of both countries, the two postal services jointly issued this stamp set. The stamps feature two iconic ancient city landmarks: the Chinese Stork Tower and the Ukrainian Golden Gate in Kyiv. Stork Tower embodies classical Chinese poetry and architecture, while the Golden Gate represents Ukraine's ancient city civilization. The stamps present the distinct architectural aesthetics of East and West, using historical heritage as a bridge to convey the values of mutual learning and friendly exchange, enriching the series of joint stamp issues between China and other countries.

Stamp Designs and Historical Background:

Stork Tower

Image: The stamp features a pen-and-ink sketch of the Stork Tower, with a warm orange-yellow background evoking the sunset over the Yellow River, and the inscription "China–Ukraine Joint Issue" at the bottom.
History: Located on the east bank of the Yellow River in Puzhou Ancient Town, Yongji, Shanxi, the Stork Tower was first built in the Northern Zhou Dynasty. It gained fame through Wang Zhihuan's poem "On the Stork Tower" and is one of China's four great towers. The original tower was destroyed during the Jin and Yuan dynasties, but a modern reconstruction has restored its Tang Dynasty architectural form. It is an iconic cultural landmark of the Yellow River basin, embodying classical Chinese poetry and ancient architecture.
Significance: Represents classical Chinese tower architecture and poetic culture.

Golden Gate

Image: A pen-and-ink sketch of the Golden Gate in Kyiv, with a light blue sky background highlighting the architectural silhouette.
History: The Golden Gate is located in Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine, and was first built in the 11th century. It is an important ancient city gate from the Kyivan Rus period, a core structure of the city's defensive system, and a witness to Ukraine's thousand-year urban development. It is a national historical monument of Ukraine.
Significance: A classic representative of medieval Ukrainian architectural art.

Artistic and Design Features:

Unified Format: Both stamps are in a horizontal format, using a unified black-and-white pen-and-ink sketch style, with detailed and realistic architectural lines.
Color Differentiation: The Stork Tower uses a warm orange background, while the Golden Gate uses a cool blue background, clearly distinguishing the different cultural characters of Eastern and European architecture.
Design Concept: The focus on pure lines highlights the structural beauty of the ancient buildings, minimizing decorative elements to emphasize the architecture itself.
Series Significance: This is a joint issue focusing on historical architecture, and can be collected together with other joint stamps featuring landmarks from other countries.

This stamp set is the first joint issue between China and Ukraine, focusing on the theme of historical architecture in both Eastern and Western cultures. Available in stamp set and large sheet formats, it is an important item in the joint issue series and is often collected together with other architectural-themed joint stamps between China and Russia, Denmark, Spain, and other countries.