Scott No: -
Serial number: 2020-16
Values in set: 4
Date of issue: July 11, 2020
Denomination: 540 fen
Designer: Yan Binwu, Feng Hui
Size of stamps: 50 * 30 mm
Perforation: 13
Sheet composition:
12 for Sheet I;
8 for Sheet II (2 Sets)
180 * 160 mm for Sheet I;
180 * 155 mm for Sheet II
Size of S/S: 96 * 150 mm
Size of S/S stamp: 66 * 106 mm
S/S Perforation: 13.5 * 13
Printing process:
Offset + Engraving for stamps;
Photogravure for S/S
Printing House: Beijing Postage Stamp Printing Works

China Post is scheduled to issue a set of 4 special stamps and 1 souvenir sheet themed "The Palace Museum (II)" on July 11, 2020. The total face value of the complete set is 11.40 yuan. The planned circulation includes 8.8 million sets of stamps, 1.1 million sheets of Layout 2, and 6.5 million souvenir sheets.

Established in 1925, the Palace Museum in Beijing is a comprehensive Chinese museum founded on the basis of the imperial palaces of the Ming and Qing dynasties and their collections. As China's largest museum of ancient culture and art, it not only boasts unparalleled unique collections but also stands as the world's largest and best-preserved complex of wooden palatial buildings. It is not only a magnificent treasure trove of imperial artifacts from the Ming and Qing dynasties but also a vivid archive recording the court history of these two dynasties.

2020 marks the 600th anniversary of the completion of the Forbidden City and the 95th anniversary of the establishment of the Palace Museum, a major cultural event for the whole society. In this "year of grand celebrations," the Palace Museum will hold a series of splendid cultural activities to highlight the cultural connotation and contemporary value of the Forbidden City, inherit and promote fine traditional Chinese culture, safeguard the heritage with craftsmanship, nourish society with culture, and pass on the magnificent Forbidden City intact to the next 600 years.

In 2020, China Post issues the special stamp set "The Palace Museum (II)" consisting of 4 stamps and 1 souvenir sheet. The stamps are titled: Golden Water Bridge, Hall of Central Harmony, Palace of Heavenly Purity, and Pavilion of Eternal Spring. The souvenir sheet features a floor plan of the Palace Museum.

The Golden Water Bridge was first built during the Yongle reign of the Ming Dynasty as a wooden bridge. It was replaced with a stone bridge in the third year of the Jingtai reign (1452) and renovated again in the 29th year of the Kangxi reign of the Qing Dynasty (1690). Although it has undergone several renovations since then, its overall architectural layout remains unchanged. The Hall of Central Harmony was completed in the 18th year of the Yongle reign of the Ming Dynasty (1420 AD). Having survived three fires, the existing structure was rebuilt in the seventh year of the Tianqi reign of the Ming Dynasty (1627 AD). Originally named the Hall of Imperial Glory, it was later renamed the Hall of Central Ultimate and officially designated as the Hall of Central Harmony in the second year of the Shunzhi reign of the Qing Dynasty (1645 AD). Before the emperor held grand ceremonies in the Hall of Supreme Harmony, he would rest here and receive the kowtow salutes from officials. Every spring, before offering sacrifices at the Temple of Agriculture, the emperor would also review the sacrificial texts here. Additionally, the prayer tablets for sacrifices at the Temple of Earth, Ancestral Temple, and Temple of State were inspected here. The Palace of Heavenly Purity, one of the three main halls in the inner court, was first constructed in the 18th year of the Yongle reign of the Ming Dynasty (1420 AD). Destroyed by fire several times during the Ming and Qing dynasties, the current building dates back to the third year of the Jiaqing reign of the Qing Dynasty (1798 AD). With a double-eaved gable and hip roof covered in yellow glazed tiles, it stands on a single-layer white marble platform. The veranda-adjoined hall has 9 bays in width and 5 bays in depth, covering a construction area of 1,400 square meters. The Pavilion of Eternal Spring is located south of the Pavilion of Clear Auspiciousness in the Imperial Garden. Built in the 15th year of the Jiajing reign of the Ming Dynasty (1536 AD), it is a square pavilion with auxiliary eaves extending from each side. The ceiling inside the pavilion is painted with a pair of phoenixes, and the caisson ceiling is adorned with a gilded carved coiled dragon holding a precious pearl in its mouth. Known for its brilliant colors and exquisite craftsmanship, the pavilion, together with the Pavilion of Wanchun (Everlasting Spring), is hailed as the finest among the palaces' pavilions.

The Palace Museum has been featured on stamps multiple times. Therefore, this design selects iconic buildings that have never appeared before and integrates the distinctive scenery of the four seasons (spring, summer, autumn, and winter), reflecting the Forbidden City's solemnity, mystery, grandeur, and splendor. The floor plan of the Palace Museum is also used on stamps for the first time, presenting its magnificent architectural layout in delicate detail and completeness.

The set of stamps is designed by Yan Bingwu and Feng Hui, the souvenir sheet by Wang Huming, and the border decorations of Layout 2 by Xia Jingqiu. It adopts printing technologies such as colorless ink. The stamps are printed by Beijing Stamp Printing House using a combination of offset and intaglio techniques, while the souvenir sheet is produced via photogravure.