Scott No: 2810-11
Serial number: 1997-23
Values in set: 2
Date of issue: November 8,1997
Designers: Wang Huming
Size: 50*30mm
Perforation: 11.5
Sheet composition: 32
Printing process: gravure

The special stamp set The Three Gorges Project – River Closure, catalog number 1997-23, was issued on November 8, 1997. It consists of two stamps, printed as a horizontal continuous pair, produced using the photogravure process. The stamps measure 50×30 mm, with a perforation gauge of 11.5 degrees. Each sheet contains 32 stamps. The stamps were designed by Xu Yongmin, Wang Yong, Liu Shouxiang, and Song Kejing and printed by Beijing Stamp Printing Works.

The Three Gorges Project on the Yangtze River is a massive water conservancy and hydropower project in the world. On November 8, 1997, the Three Gorges Project achieved the closure of the main river channel, marking the successful completion of the first phase of the project and its transition to the second phase of construction. The stamps use a continuous format, placing the two scenes of navigation through the diversion channel and the main river closure side by side, documenting this key milestone of the century-defining water conservancy project and showcasing the extraordinary courage and engineering achievements of contemporary China's large-scale water conservancy construction.

Stamp Designs and Historical Background

Navigation Through the Diversion Channel

The image depicts the Three Gorges diversion channel, with river water flowing smoothly between the mountains and ships traveling on the river. The diversion channel was a core facility of the first phase of the Three Gorges Project. During the main river closure, the waters of the Yangtze River were discharged through this channel while ensuring continued navigation on the Yangtze, achieving both flood discharge and navigation.

Main River Closure

The image shows the magnificent construction scene of the final closure at Longkou. Cofferdams from both banks advanced toward the center of the river, and engineering vehicles dumped rock and stone to block the main channel of the Yangtze River. The scale of the main river closure, the closure flow rate, and the construction water depth all ranked among the world's highest. It was a landmark moment in the construction of the Three Gorges Project that attracted worldwide attention.

Artistic and Design Features

The set is a horizontal continuous pair. The mountain and water backgrounds of the two images connect, visually forming a complete long scroll. The main colors are blue and yellow, with majestic distant mountains and a vast river. The realistic painting technique recreates the grand scene of the construction site. The photogravure printing provides rich layers, integrating the gorge landforms, river water, and engineering machinery into one, vividly recreating the breathtaking engineering scroll of the main river closure.