Scott No: 3017-20
Serial number:2000-8
Values in set: 4
Denomination: 5.20 yuan
Date of issue: April 19, 2000
Designer: Xu Yanbo
Size of stamps: 50*30mm
Perforation:12
Sheet composition: 40
Printing process: Offset
Printer: Beijing Postage Stamp Printing House

The special stamp set Dali Scenery was issued on April 19, 2000. It consists of four stamps with a total face value of 5.20 yuan. It was designed by Xu Yanbo and printed by Beijing Stamp Printing Works using the photogravure process. Dali is located in western Yunnan. It was once the homeland of the Nanzhao and Dali kingdoms and is a multi-ethnic settlement mainly inhabited by the Bai people. This stamp set features four representative natural and cultural landscapes of Dali, condensing the lake and mountain scenery and ancient architectural relics of the western Yunnan plateau into stamps, showcasing the unique charm of the Dali national scenic area.

Dali combines plateau lakes, snow mountains, famous mountains, and ancient caves and temples. It possesses both magnificent natural scenery and the profound history and culture of Nanzhao and Dali. The stamp set selects four landmarks: Cangshan Mountain and Erhai Lake, the Three Pagodas of Chongsheng Temple, Jizu Mountain, and Shibao Mountain, balancing natural landscapes and cultural relics. It showcases the beautiful mountains and rivers of the western Yunnan plateau and carries the long historical heritage of the Bai people, allowing viewers to appreciate the unique charm of the integration of southwestern frontier landscapes and ethnic culture.

Stamp Designs and Historical Background

Cangshan Mountain and Erhai Lake

The stamp depicts Cangshan Mountain stretching across the scene and the blue waves of Erhai Lake rippling, with a small island standing quietly in the lake. Cangshan Mountain and Erhai Lake are the core landscapes of Dali. The nineteen peaks of Cangshan are majestic and continuous. Erhai is a famous freshwater lake on the Yunnan plateau. The lake and mountains reflect each other, with beautiful scenery. It is the iconic scroll of Dali's scenery and the homeland where the Bai people have lived and multiplied for generations.

Three Pagodas of Chongsheng Temple

The stamp shows the Three Pagodas reflected in the pond. The Three Pagodas of Chongsheng Temple were first built in the Tang Dynasty. The main pagoda, Qianxun Pagoda, and the two smaller pagodas to the north and south are arranged at different heights. They are classic ancient buildings surviving from the Nanzhao and Dali periods and a cultural symbol of Dali, bearing witness to the development of ancient architectural techniques and Buddhist culture in western Yunnan.

Jizu Mountain

The stamp depicts the towering peaks of Jizu Mountain, with a Buddhist pagoda standing in the air at the summit and lush forests in the mountains. Jizu Mountain is located in western Yunnan and is a famous Buddhist mountain in China. Its shape resembles a chicken's foot. It combines spectacular mountains and steep peaks with ancient temples and Zen monasteries. Natural scenery and religious culture are integrated. It has been a scenic spot in the southwest since ancient times.

Shibao Mountain

The stamp presents layered Danxia rocks, with ancient temples built against the mountain and continuous mountain ranges. Shibao Mountain is famous for its unique Danxia spherical weathering landforms. The mountain preserves a large number of cave sculptures from the Nanzhao and Dali periods, integrating peculiar rock landscapes with ancient cave art. It is a precious historical relic of western Yunnan.

Artistic and Design Features

The stamp set uses realistic landscape painting. The colors are fresh and transparent, with clear layers of blue sky, clear water, green mountains, and ancient buildings. The photogravure printing is delicate and soft, accurately expressing distant mountain mist, lake ripples, and forest textures. Each of the four stamps has its own scenery: lake, pagoda, mountain, and cave are presented in sequence. Natural scenery and cultural relics are interwoven, fully outlining the diverse character of Dali. It is a classic work in the category of Chinese scenery stamps.