Scott No: 3052
Serial number:2000-18
Values in set: 2
Denomination: 1.60 yuan
Date of issue: September 26, 2000
Designer: Li Defu
Size of stamps: 50*30 mm
Perforation:12.5
Sheet composition: 16
Printing process: gravure
Printer: Beijing Postage Stamp Printing House

The special stamp set Seaside Scenery was issued on September 26, 2000. It consists of two stamps with a total face value of 1.60 yuan. It was designed by Li Defu and printed by Beijing Stamp Printing Works using the photogravure process. It uses a horizontal two-stamp continuous format. This is a special stamp set jointly issued by the postal services of China and Cuba, commemorating the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries. It features representative tropical bay scenery from both countries, using similar seaside landscapes to bear witness to the deep and friendly relations between China and Cuba.

Thematic Focus of the Set

Although China and Cuba are separated by vast oceans, both are countries with beautiful tropical coastal scenery. In 1960, China and Cuba formally established diplomatic relations. Cuba was the first country in Latin America to establish diplomatic relations with New China. The stamp set features Hainan's Yelin Bay in China and Varadero Beach in Cuba. The two locations are at similar latitudes and both have coconut groves, beaches, and blue seas. The two images can be connected horizontally to form a complete curved coastline, symbolizing the people of the two countries embracing each other. Using coastal natural beauty as a medium, it conveys friendly exchange across the ocean and showcases the unique natural charm of tropical coasts.

Stamp Designs and Historical Background

Hainan Yelin Bay

The stamp depicts the coastal scenery of Yelin Bay in Dongjiao, Wenchang, Hainan. Coconut trees grow in groves along the coastline, the beach extends into the sea, and a Chinese-style pavilion stands on the shore. The blue sea and clear waves create a beautiful scene. Yelin Bay is a landmark coastal scenic area in Hainan. The coconut grove is a symbol of tropical islands, showcasing the unique tropical charm of China's South China Sea coast.

Varadero Beach

The stamp presents Varadero Beach in Cuba, with a long white beach, rows of coconut trees, clear sea water, and thatched sunshade huts arranged by the sea. Varadero is a famous seaside resort in Cuba. The scenery along the Caribbean coast is beautiful. It is a highly representative coastal landscape of Cuba, showcasing the tropical seaside character of this Caribbean island nation.

Artistic and Design Features

The stamp set uses watercolor landscape painting. The colors are fresh and transparent, with clear layers of blue sea, white sand, and emerald green coconut groves. The photogravure printing provides bright and soft colors, effectively reproducing the texture of the sea water and coconut trees. The two stamps are printed in a horizontal continuous pair, and the bay curves connect with each other, creating an ingenious composition. One shows the scenery of the South China Sea, and the other shows the Caribbean coast. The landscape types echo each other, condensing the beautiful tropical coasts of both countries into stamps. It is an outstanding work in the category of jointly issued scenery stamps between China and other countries.