Scott No: 3289
Serial number: 2003-13
Values in set: 4
Denomination: 4.40 yuan
Date of issue: 26th July 2003
Designer: Yan Bingwu
Size of stamps: 50*30 mm
Perforation: 12
Sheet composition:
16 for Sheet I
8 for Sheet II
Printing process: offset
Printer: Henan Post & Telecommunication Printing Works

This is a set of four special stamps titled Mount Kongtong, issued on July 26, 2003, with a total face value of 4.40 yuan, designed by Yan Bingwu, and printed by Henan Post and Telecommunications Printing Factory using offset printing. The four stamps are arranged in a grid (2×2) continuous format.

Mount Kongtong is located west of Pingliang City in Gansu Province and is known as the "First Mountain of Chinese Taoism." According to legend, the Yellow Emperor climbed this mountain to seek advice from Guang Chengzi on governance and self-cultivation, making it an important birthplace of Taoist culture. Mount Kongtong combines spectacular peaks, forests, cliffs, and Taoist temples. Temples and shrines have been built on the mountain since the Qin and Han dynasties, and through successive additions, a large complex of ancient buildings, including nine palaces and twelve courts, has been preserved. The natural landscape and Taoist cultural relics are integrated into one. This stamp set features four iconic landscapes of Mount Kongtong, using a continuous format to present the majestic and precipitous mountain scenery and profound Taoist cultural heritage of this famous mountain in the northwest.

Stamp Designs and Historical Background

Imperial City

The Imperial City is located at the summit of Mazong Mountain, the main peak of Mount Kongtong. It is the largest Taoist ancient architectural complex on the mountain, also known as the Taihe Palace. The entire complex is built according to the mountain's contours, surrounded by walls, with tiered halls and pavilions. Its architectural layout imitates the imperial palace, which is how it got the name Imperial City. The halls stand at the summit, backed by sheer cliffs, commanding a commanding view and exuding a majestic presence. It is the core of the Taoist architectural complex on Mount Kongtong. The stamp presents the Imperial City standing on the summit from a low-angle perspective, with the Taoist buildings nestled among green pines, highlighting the majestic and solemn character of the architecture.

Tanzheng Gorge

Tanzheng Gorge is a well-known canyon landscape on Mount Kongtong. A tributary of the Jing River flows through the gorge, and the sound of water striking the rocks resembles the plucking of a zither, which is how the gorge got its name. The cliffs on both sides of the gorge are steep, with dense forests, and clear water winds through the valley. It combines the ruggedness of rocks with the beauty of flowing water and has been a scenic spot on Mount Kongtong since ancient times. The stamp depicts the deep gorge and the harmonious blend of mountains and water, with rocks, trees, and streams complementing one another, creating a serene and quiet valley atmosphere.

Pagoda Courtyard

The Pagoda Courtyard is located on Phoenix Ridge of Mount Kongtong. Its core structure is the Ming Dynasty Lingkong Pagoda, an octagonal seven-story brick pagoda. The ancient pagoda stands tall, surrounded by ancient cypresses, in a serene environment. It is a well-preserved ancient Buddhist pagoda on Mount Kongtong. Both Buddhism and Taoism coexist on Mount Kongtong, and the Pagoda Courtyard bears witness to the unique cultural phenomenon of Buddhist and Taoist cultural exchange and coexistence in history. The stamp uses a bird's-eye view, with the ancient pagoda at the center, surrounded by trees, with distant mountains layered in the background, creating a peaceful and distant scene.

Leisheng Peak

Leisheng Peak is a branch peak on the south side of the main peak of Mount Kongtong. Its cliffs are steep, and it is surrounded by emptiness on three sides, making it a perilous location. During thunderstorms, the sound of thunder echoes and rumbles through the valley, which is how the peak got its name. Several small Taoist halls are built along the cliff face, clinging to the precipice, making it the most adventurous and distinctive landscape on Mount Kongtong. The stamp depicts the spectacular peaks and sheer cliffs, with Taoist temples built against the rock face and clouds and mist swirling among the mountains, fully displaying the adventurous and magnificent character of the mountains of the northwest.

Artistic and Design Features

The stamp set uses a four-stamp grid (2×2) continuous format, with the four scenes combining to form a complete panoramic scroll of Mount Kongtong. The designs use the expressive techniques of Chinese landscape painting, with steady and elegant tones that fully capture the rugged and vigorous texture of the great mountains of the northwest. The offset printing provides rich layers, delicately expressing the textures of the rocks, the depth of the forests, and the details of the ancient architecture. Each of the four scenes has its own focus—the summit palace, the gorge stream, the ancient pagoda and cypresses, and the perilous cliffs—presenting in sequence the unique charm of Mount Kongtong, where natural landscapes and ancient Taoist architecture coexist.