Scott No: -
Serial number: 2022-6
Values in set: 7
Date of issue: April 28, 2022
Denomination: 840 fen
Designer: Yang Wenqing
Size of stamps: 50 * 30 mm
Perforation: 13
Sheet composition:
14 for Sheet I (2 Sets);
4 for Sheet II
Sheet Size:
134 * 234 mm for Sheet I;
130 * 100 mm for Sheet II
Printing process: Photogravure
Printing House: Beijing Postage Stamp Printing Works

China Post is scheduled to issue a set of 7 special stamps themed "World Natural Heritage – South China Karst" on April 28, 2022. The stamp designs feature Shilin Karst, Libo Karst, Wulong Karst, Guilin Karst, Shibing Karst, Jinfo Mountain Karst and Huanjiang Karst respectively. The total face value of the full set of stamps is 8.40 yuan, with a planned circulation of 5.9 million sets.

China has the largest distribution area of karst landforms in the world. Ranging from tropical to temperate zones and from humid to arid regions, it boasts a complete range of karst landform types, covering almost all variations. These landforms not only present spectacular and amazing scenery, but also demonstrate the complex evolutionary history of this geomorphic landscape. South China Karst includes 7 sites – Shilin, Libo, Wulong, Guilin, Shibing, Jinfo Mountain and Huanjiang – which were inscribed on the World Natural Heritage List in two phases, in 2007 and 2014.

Shilin Karst is located in Shilin Yi Autonomous County, Kunming City, Yunnan Province. It is dominated by karst landscapes and renowned for its "grandeur, uniqueness, steepness, elegance, serenity, mystery and vastness". As the only karst scenic area in a subtropical plateau region in the world, it features the most distinctive karst (karst landform) landscapes and enjoys a high reputation in the global geological community.

Libo Karst is situated in Libo County, Guizhou Province, characterized by conical and tower - shaped landforms. It has contiguous areas of primary karst forests within its borders. With dense forests and crisscrossing streams integrating with mountains, rivers, caves, waterfalls and rocks formed by karst landforms, it possesses a unique karst forest ecosystem and remarkable biodiversity.

Wulong Karst is located in Wulong District, Chongqing Municipality. It consists of three independent karst systems: the Furong Cave cave system, the Tiankeng Three Bridges karst system and the Houping erosional tiankeng karst system. Among them, the three magnificent natural stone arch bridges – Tianlong Bridge, Qinglong Bridge and Heilong Bridge – are particularly famous worldwide, forming the largest group of natural bridges in Asia.

Guilin Karst is in Yangshuo County, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. It is a typical representative of peak forest and peak cluster karst landscapes, with unparalleled karst landscape features. It ranks first in the world in terms of the area of peak forest plains, the beauty of peak shapes, the height of peaks and their distribution density. Together with the diverse cave landscapes such as stalagmites, stone pillars and stalactites, it forms Guilin’s landscape picture featuring "clear mountains, beautiful waters, magical caves and exquisite rocks".

Shibing Karst is located in Shibing County, Guizhou Province. Within its boundaries, the mountains are steep and isolated peaks stand tall, presenting a unique and spectacular dolomite peak cluster - canyon karst landscape in tropical - subtropical regions. It fills the gap in the dolomite type of karst development and evolution in South China from multiple aspects.

Jinfo Mountain Karst is situated in Nanchuan District, Chongqing Municipality. It has majestic and beautiful mountains and charming scenery. It is famous for its typical karst tableland landform, ancient high - altitude cave system, colorful surface karst landscapes, rich biodiversity and long - standing history and culture of saltpeter refining. It is not only unique in South China, but also regarded as a model of tableland karst landforms in the world.

Huanjiang Karst is located in Huanjiang Maonan Autonomous County, Hechi City, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. It is dominated by conical mountains and has the largest contiguous, best - preserved and most primitive karst forest surviving in karst areas worldwide. Libo - Huanjiang Karst is naturally connected as a whole, preserving a complete morphological spectrum ranging from plateau karst to low - mountain and hill karst. It reflects a complete and unique karst evolution process and possesses inestimable aesthetic and scientific value.

This set of stamps was designed by Yang Wenqing. Adopting Western painting techniques, the stamps appropriately apply artistic exaggeration and selection on the basis of highlighting the characteristics of South China Karst landscapes. This ensures that the content not only conforms to scientific laws but also retains artistic beauty. The overall composition of the stamps is rich, the colors are abundant and harmonious, and the scenes are magnificent and grand, demonstrating the unique natural beauty of South China Karst.

This set of stamps is printed by Beijing Stamp Factory Co., Ltd. using gravure printing technology. The six - color high - screen printing technology fully showcases the topographic features of South China Karst and highly restores the style of the original paintings. The stamps use dual - color anti - counterfeiting fluorescent ink, with yellow ink emitting yellow light and red ink emitting red light. Under a purple light, the images on the stamps become more vivid and three - dimensional.