Scott No: 3243-47
Serial number: 2002-25
Values in set: 5
Denomination: 4.00 yuan
Date of issue: 9th Nov. 2002
Designer: Lou Wei
Size of stamps: 50*30 mm
Perforation: 13*12.5
Sheet composition: 16
Printing process: photogravure
Printer: Beijing Postage Stamp Printing House

The stamp set is cataloged as 2002-25, titled Museum Construction. It was issued on November 30, 2002. The set consists of five stamps in a photogravure edition printed by Henan Post and Telecommunications Printing Factory. The designers are Shao Lichen and Ma Yong. The total face value is 4 yuan. Each stamp measures 50×30 mm, with a perforation gauge of 12 degrees. Each sheet contains 16 stamps.

Museums are public cultural institutions that collect, protect, research, and display cultural relics and specimens. They carry the function of preserving national memory and disseminating history and culture. This stamp set features five representative modern museums in China, showcasing the achievements of China's cultural and museum development and reflecting the architectural character and cultural significance of museums in the new era.

Stamp Designs and Historical Background

Shaanxi History Museum

Located in Xi'an, Shaanxi, it is China's first large-scale modern national museum. Its architecture draws on the form of Tang Dynasty palaces, with tiered courtyards, grand and magnificent. Its collection is vast, with artifacts from the Zhou, Qin, Han, and Tang dynasties at its core, systematically presenting the development of ancient Shaanxi civilization. It is an important window for displaying the history of China's golden age. The stamp shows the main building of the museum, with its dignified and elegant Tang-style architecture.

Shanghai Museum

Located in People's Square, Shanghai, its architectural form is inspired by the ancient Chinese bronze ding. It has a square base and a circular exhibition hall, symbolizing "a round heaven and a square earth." Its collection is best known for bronzes, ceramics, and calligraphy and painting, gathering artistic treasures from various dynasties. It is a leading domestic museum specializing in ancient art and enjoys a high reputation at home and abroad. The stamp presents its iconic ding-shaped exterior, with a unique design.

Henan Museum

Located in Zhengzhou, Henan, its main building is inspired by the ancient Dengfeng Observatory, composed of multiple tower-like structures of varying heights. Its collection is rich, gathering precious artifacts from the Central Plains region from prehistoric times through various dynasties, bearing witness to the continuous development of Chinese civilization in the Central Plains. It is the most important exhibition venue for Central Plains civilization. The stamp shows the majestic and substantial character of the architectural complex.

Tibet Museum

Located in Lhasa, it is the first modern comprehensive museum in Tibet. Its architecture blends traditional Tibetan architectural style with modern construction techniques, with white walls and golden roofs and distinctive Tibetan decorative features. Its collection includes a large number of Tibetan ethnic artifacts, including ritual objects, thangkas, and Tibetan-style items, showcasing Tibet's history, culture, customs, and religious art. The stamp reflects the rich character of plateau ethnic architecture.

Tianjin Natural History Museum

Located in Tianjin, it is a long-established natural history museum in China. Its main building features a hemispherical dome with a spherical grid structure, giving it a modern technological appearance. Its collection includes abundant paleontological fossils and plant and animal specimens, focusing on the evolution of life and popularizing natural science knowledge. It is an important venue for natural science education. The stamp highlights the unique modern architectural form of the hemispherical exhibition hall.

Artistic and Design Features

The stamps use the photogravure process, with accurate color reproduction, delicately expressing the materials, colors, and details of the different buildings. The stamps use a horizontal format, with the five museum buildings arranged in sequence. Each stamp highlights the main building of one museum, with a simple and clean background, minimizing extraneous environmental elements. The five museums have distinct styles: Tang-style ancient charm, a bronze ding shape, Central Plains tower style, Tibetan ethnic architecture, and a modern spherical science venue. They blend ancient and modern, with distinct regional characteristics. By showcasing museums of different regions and types, the stamp set reflects the achievements of China's diversified cultural and museum construction and highlights the preservation of Chinese cultural heritage.