Scott No: -
Serial number: 2013-16
Values in set: 3 + 1
Date of issue: July 27, 2013
Denomination: 360 fen
Designer: Ding Zhongbing
Size of stamps: 30 * 50 mm
Perforation: 13.5
Sheet composition: 12 (4 sets)
Sheet size: 220 * 150 mm
Denomination of S/S: 600 fen
Size of S/S: 130 * 88 mm
Size of S/S Stamp: 70 * 56 mm
Perforation of S/S: 13 * 13.5
Printing process: Photogravure
Printing House: Beijing Postage Stamp Printing Works

On July 27, 2013, China Post issued a set of special stamps titled "Mount Longhu" (Dragon and Tiger Mountain). The set consists of three main stamps and one souvenir sheet, with a total face value of 9.60 yuan. The stamps were designed by the painter Ding Zhongbing and printed by Beijing Stamp Printing Works.

The three main stamps are titled "Red Cliffs and Green Waters," "Dragon and Tiger in Repose," and "The Ancestral Home of Taoism." Each has a face value of 1.20 yuan, measures 30×50 mm, and has a perforation gauge of 13.5 degrees. The three stamps are presented in a continuous vertical se-tenant format, with a sheet containing 12 stamps (four complete sets) and measuring 220×150 mm.

The accompanying souvenir sheet is titled "Immortals Welcoming Guests," with a face value of 6 yuan. The inner stamp image measures 70×56 mm, and the overall souvenir sheet measures 130×88 mm, with a perforation gauge of 13×13.5 degrees. It adopts a horizontal composition, creating a clear visual contrast with the vertically oriented main stamps.

The stamps were printed using a high-line-screen six-color photogravure process, along with four layers of anti-counterfeiting technology: anti-counterfeiting paper, anti-counterfeiting ink, shaped perforations, and fluorescent spray codes. The red-fluorescent ink emits a soft red glow under ultraviolet light, which perfectly complements the misty, cloud-wreathed Danxia landscape of Mount Longhu.

Design details:

The three main stamps, all in a vertical continuous format, are imbued with a flowing, cloud-like atmosphere and present a strong visual unity, each precisely capturing a core aspect of Mount Longhu:

First stamp, "Red Cliffs and Green Waters": Rendered in a fresh ink-wash palette, it depicts the reddish-purple Danxia peaks, with the emerald-green Lxi River meandering at the foot of the mountains. The juxtaposition of the rugged cliffs and graceful waters embodies the iconic landscape of Mount Longhu, capturing the essence of this World Natural Heritage site within the confines of the stamp.

Second stamp, "Dragon and Tiger in Repose": Featuring rolling mountain ranges, this stamp brings together the defining Danxia landforms of Mount Longhu, such as the Dragon and Tiger Peaks and the Golden Spear Peak. Mist drifts between the peaks, showcasing the majestic and competitive beauty of the mature-stage Danxia landforms.

Third stamp, "The Ancestral Home of Taoism": Centered on the Celestial Master's Mansion (Tianshi Fu) nestled among clouds and mist, this stamp depicts the traditional red walls and dark tiles of the ancient complex hidden amidst green mountains. It highlights Mount Longhu's status as the ancestral home of the Zhengyi Taoist tradition, while also reflecting the Taoist core principles of "concealment rather than exposure" and "following the way of nature."

Souvenir sheet, "Immortals Welcoming Guests": Adopting a broad horizontal composition, the foreground shows the lush, forested banks of the Lxi River, while the middle ground is shrouded in mist. In the distance, the Danxia peaks are personified as a row of immortals standing in the clouds, seemingly greeting visitors from afar. The panoramic composition seamlessly blends the natural poetry of Mount Longhu with Taoist legend, serving as a stunning visual centerpiece of the entire stamp set.

Mount Longhu is located in Guixi City, Yingtan, Jiangxi Province. Its main peak, Longhu Peak, rises to an elevation of 247.4 meters. In 2010, it was inscribed on the UNESCO World Natural Heritage List as a representative example of mature-stage Danxia landforms in China. In addition to its breathtaking landscapes, the area is home to the Xianshuiyan Cliff Tombs, left by the ancient Yue people over two thousand years ago. This is one of the most concentrated and archaeologically significant cliff tomb regions in China.

As early as the mid-Eastern Han Dynasty, Zhang Ling, the founder of the Zhengyi Taoist tradition, practiced alchemy here. Legend has it that when his elixir was completed, dragon and tiger phenomena appeared, giving the mountain its name. His descendants carried on the Taoist lineage for over 1,900 years, spanning 63 generations. Mount Longhu is therefore widely recognized as the "Number One Mountain of Taoism."

This stamp set elegantly presents the three distinctive characteristics of Mount Longhu—its Danxia landforms, the cliff tomb wonders, and its status as the ancestral home of Taoism—within a compact format, serving as a "national calling card" to promote the culture of Mount Longhu both domestically and internationally.