Scott No: -
Serial number: 2012-29
Values in set: 2
Date of issue: November 26, 2012
Denomination: 240 fen
Designer: Hu Zhenyuan, Ma Lihang
Size of stamps: 50 * 30 mm
Perforation: 13
Sheet composition: 12
Size of sheet: 190 * 180 mm
Printing process: Offset
Printing House: Liaoning Provincal Shenyang Postage Stamp Printing Works

On November 26, 2012, the special stamp set "Taizhou Yangtze River Highway Bridge and Istanbul Bosphorus Bridge" (catalog number 2012-29) was officially issued. This is the first joint stamp issue between China Post and Turkey's postal service, released in conjunction with the China-Turkey Cultural Year activities to carry forward the historical ties of the ancient Silk Road and deepen cultural exchange between the two countries. 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 jointly designed by Chinese designers Hu Zhenyuan and Ma Lihang, together with Turkish designer Bülent Ateş, and printed by Shenyang Post and Telecommunications Printing Factory in Liaoning Province using offset printing.

The stamp set features two iconic suspension bridges: the Taizhou Yangtze River Highway Bridge represents China's major contemporary bridge engineering achievements, while the Bosphorus Bridge is a transportation landmark connecting Europe and Asia. Bridges symbolize connection and communication, echoing the thousand-year friendly exchanges between China and Turkey along the ancient Silk Road, and signifying the continued deepening of economic, trade, and cultural connectivity between the two countries in the new era.

Stamp Designs and Historical Background:

Taizhou Yangtze River Highway Bridge

Image: The Taizhou Yangtze River Highway Bridge at dusk, with the bridge reflected in the river and a distant city skyline.
History: Completed and opened to traffic in 2012, the bridge spans the middle reaches of the Yangtze River in Jiangsu Province, connecting Taizhou and Zhenjiang (Yangzhong). It is the world's first kilometer-level three-tower two-span suspension bridge, setting multiple world records and improving the highway network of the Yangtze River Delta.
Significance: A landmark achievement in modern Chinese bridge engineering, showcasing China's contemporary infrastructure capabilities.

Istanbul Bosphorus Bridge

Image: The Bosphorus Bridge spanning the water, with the Ortaköy Mosque on the left and pleasure boats on the water.
History: Completed and opened to traffic in 1973, the bridge spans the Bosphorus Strait, making it the world's first bridge to connect the Asian and European continents. Istanbul was an important node at the western end of the ancient Silk Road.
Significance: A symbol of the transportation link between Europe and Asia, bearing witness to the long-standing integration of Eastern and Western civilizations.

Artistic and Design Features:

Visual Style: Both stamps use warm dusk light and color palettes, creating a visually consistent aesthetic that meets the joint-issue design standards of both countries.
Element Integration: Each stamp highlights its respective bridge, paired with distinctive regional landmarks—one showcasing China's great river landscape, the other reflecting Istanbul's unique Eurasian urban character.
Text Treatment: The top of each stamp bears the uniform inscription "China–Turkey Joint Issue," reinforcing the cooperative theme.
Color Palette: Orange-red sunset tones enhance the grand atmosphere, with subdued backgrounds that emphasize the monumental structural beauty of the bridges.

This stamp set is the first joint issue between China and Turkey, marking a significant milestone in the series of China's joint stamp issues with other countries. The theme covers both modern bridge architecture and the ancient Silk Road, making it suitable for thematic collections on bridges, Sino-foreign joint stamp issues, and Silk Road culture. The two stamps echo each other, offering rich narrative depth and outstanding historical and thematic collectible value.