Scott No: 3242
Serial number:2002-21
Values in set: 1(souvenir sheet)
Denomination: 8 yuan
Date of issue: 8th November 2002
Designer: Yan Bingwu and Liu Hong
Size of S/S stamp: 60*40 mm
Size of S/S: 130*90 mm
Printing process: gravure
Printer: Beijing Postage Stamp Printing House

The stamp set is cataloged as 2002-21, titled Hukou Waterfall on the Yellow River (gold foil souvenir sheet). It was issued on November 8, 2002. The set consists of one souvenir sheet in a photogravure edition with embossing, printed by Beijing Stamp Printing Works. The designers are Yan Bingwu and Liu Hong, with photography by Cui Xiaohong and Li Xin. The face value is 8 yuan. The stamp measures 60×40 mm, and the souvenir sheet measures 130×90 mm. The print run is 11.5 million copies.

Hukou Waterfall is located at the border of Ji County in Shanxi and Yichuan in Shaanxi. It is the only large yellow waterfall on the Yellow River. The Yellow River, after flowing for thousands of miles, reaches this point where the riverbed suddenly narrows. The water plunges from the cliff, with huge waves churning and mist soaring into the sky. It is majestic and magnificent, a symbol of the spirit of the Chinese nation. This souvenir sheet was issued in conjunction with the 16th National Congress of the Communist Party of China. Through the imagery of the surging river at Hukou, it expresses the contemporary spirit of forging ahead and advancing with the times.

Stamp Design and Historical Background

Hukou Waterfall on the Yellow River

The stamp captures the moment of the roaring Hukou Waterfall. The muddy Yellow River water surges into the narrow Hukou gorge, with turbulent currents and rising mist. The yellowish-brown cliffs on both sides are layered, fully displaying the thunderous momentum of the great river. The Yellow River is called the Mother River, and Hukou Waterfall is its most iconic natural landscape. Ancient documents record that "the river whirls like a kettle," which is how Hukou got its name. During flood season, the floodwaters surge down, shaking the area for miles. In winter, ice waterfalls and icicles form, creating ever-changing scenery. The souvenir sheet border features water wave patterns, and on the right side are eight large embossed gold foil characters reading "Advance with the Times, Forge Ahead." This integrates the natural landscape with contemporary meaning, praising the Yellow River's national character of indomitability and courage to move forward.

Artistic and Design Features

The souvenir sheet uses photogravure combined with gold stamping and embossing, along with fluorescent ink printing, reproducing the rich colors of the Yellow River water and rocks and the layered mist. The souvenir sheet uses a horizontal format, with the main stamp image in the center, surrounded by an elegant water wave border. The overall color palette is dominated by earth yellow and ochre, fitting the landscape of the Yellow River basin. The main image uses actual photography, authentically reproducing the shocking scene of the surging Hukou rapids. The gold foil text is raised above the border, with a prominent texture, combining visual appeal with special anti-counterfeiting effects. The entire work uses Hukou Waterfall, a national symbol, to combine the majestic momentum of the natural landscape with the spirited contemporary ethos, with a grand and profound conception.