Scott No: 2816-17
Serial number: 1997-22
Values in set: 2
Date of issue: November 25,1997
Designers: Wang Huming
Size: 40*30mm
Perforation: 12
Sheet composition: 50
Printing process: offset

The commemorative stamp set China's Crude Steel Output Surpassing 100 Million Tons in 1996, catalog number 1997-22, was issued on November 25, 1997. It consists of two stamps, produced using offset printing. The stamps measure 40×30 mm, with a perforation gauge of 12 degrees. Each sheet contains 50 stamps. The stamps were designed by Wang Huming and printed by Shenyang Post and Telecommunications Printing Factory in Liaoning Province.

In 1996, China's crude steel output surpassed 100 million tons, ranking first in the world. This was a milestone in the development of China's steel industry and demonstrated the improvement of comprehensive national strength brought about by reform and opening-up. The stamps adopt a narrative approach contrasting past and present: one stamp looks back at China's long history of metallurgy, and the other showcases the fiery production scenes of the modern steel industry, reflecting the continuous inheritance and leapfrog development of Chinese metallurgical civilization from ancient times to the present.

Stamp Designs and Historical Background

Ancient Chinese Metallurgy

The main image features ancient iron farming tools. The background is taken from ancient iron smelting scenes in The Exploitation of the Works of Nature, depicting ancient people mining and smelting. China has a long history of metallurgy. As early as the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, China mastered pig iron smelting technology, making it the world's earliest civilization to use pig iron and laying the material foundation for the development of ancient agriculture and handicrafts.

China's Crude Steel Output Surpassing 100 Million Tons in 1996

The image uses the Baosteel plant area as the background, presenting the spectacular scene of converter steelmaking, with red-hot molten steel pouring out and large modern factories and metallurgical equipment visible. Baosteel is a modern steel base in China, representing advanced domestic steelmaking technology. This design intuitively displays the majestic power of the modern steel industry and records the historic achievement of steel output surpassing 100 million tons.

Artistic and Design Features

The set uses a realistic painting style, with the ancient and modern images forming a sharp contrast. The ancient metallurgy image has light and elegant tones, reproducing the style of ancient woodblock prints. The modern steelmaking image uses fiery red molten steel as its main visual, with passionate colors and strong industrial impact. The two stamps, one ancient and one modern, echo each other from beginning to end, showcasing the inheritance and takeoff of Chinese metallurgical civilization over thousands of years.