Scott No: 3267-70
Serial number: 2003-5
Values in set: 4
Denomination: 3.20 yuan
Date of issue: 29th Mar. 2003
Designer: Zhang Hongbin
Size of stamps: 50*30 mm
Perforation: 11.5
Sheet composition:
16 for sheet I; 8 for Sheet II
Printing process: photogravure-engraving
Printer: Beijing Postage Stamp Printing House

This is a set of four special stamps titled Ancient Chinese Bridges – Arch Bridges, issued on March 29, 2003, with a total face value of 3.20 yuan, designed by Zhang Hongbin and printed by Beijing Stamp Printing Works using a combination of offset and intaglio (engraving) printing.

Stone arch bridges are a highly representative type of ancient Chinese bridge architecture. They use arch structures to distribute weight, fully demonstrating the advanced mechanical wisdom of ancient craftsmen. This stamp set spans both northern and southern regions, featuring four ancient stone arch bridges of distinct styles and rich heritage. The bridges cover various forms, including single-arch and multi-arch structures, and incorporate literary allusions, military history, ancient architectural techniques, and southwestern regional characteristics. The four bridges are located in Jiangsu, Henan, Beijing, and Yunnan, spanning different eras and carrying rich historical stories. Together, they present the diverse architectural styles of ancient Chinese arch bridges and showcase the outstanding achievements of ancient Chinese bridge engineering.

Stamp Designs and Historical Background

Maple Bridge

Maple Bridge is located in Suzhou, Jiangsu, and is a single-arch stone bridge. It is famous worldwide because of the Tang Dynasty poet Zhang Ji's poem "A Night Mooring by Maple Bridge." The stamp depicts the stone bridge spanning the river, with the Tieling Pass visible nearby, blending ancient architecture with the landscape. Maple Bridge was not only an important water and land transportation route in ancient times but also gained profound cultural significance from the famous poem. For centuries, it has been a cultural symbol of the Jiangnan water towns. The bridge is simple and substantial, bearing witness to centuries of trade and cultural change along the Jiangnan canal.

Xiaoshang Bridge

Xiaoshang Bridge is located in Linying, Henan, and was first built during the Sui Dynasty. It is one of the earliest surviving open-spandrel stone arch bridges in China, slightly later than the Zhaozhou Bridge. The bridge is built of red sandstone, with three intricately designed arches and fine relief carvings of dragons, tigers, and lotus flowers. The ancient bridge is widely known for its connection to the Southern Song general Yue Fei's resistance against the Jin Dynasty. It combines valuable architectural and archaeological significance with profound historical memory, serving as a model of ancient stone arch bridges in the Central Plains.

Lugou Bridge

Lugou Bridge spans the Yongding River in Beijing. It is a large multi-arch stone bridge, first built during the Jin Dynasty. The railings on both sides of the bridge are carved with numerous stone lions, each with a different expression and posture. This ancient bridge was not only an important transportation hub in the ancient north but also the site of a major modern historical event: the Lugou Bridge Incident, which marked the beginning of full-scale Japanese aggression against China. The stamp presents the magnificent appearance of the long bridge lying across the water, fully displaying the majestic character of a large northern ancient bridge.

Double Dragon Bridge

Double Dragon Bridge is located in Jianshui, Yunnan, and is commonly known as the Seventeen-Arch Bridge. It was first built during the Qianlong period of the Qing Dynasty and later expanded during the Daoguang period. It spans the confluence of two rivers and is a grand multi-arch stone bridge in southwestern China. Pavilions are built on the bridge, complementing the bridge structure. It is a masterpiece of ancient bridge architecture in the southern minority regions. The bridge's design is expansive, blending Central Plains bridge-building techniques with southwestern local aesthetics, reflecting the architectural and cultural exchange among ethnic groups in ancient times.

Artistic and Design Features

The stamp set uses a combination of offset and intaglio printing, with solid and powerful engraved lines that accurately convey the rough, substantial texture of the stone and fully reproduce the ancient, weathered character of the stone arch bridges. The designs balance realistic depiction with atmospheric evocation, presenting the distinct regional styles of Jiangnan, the Central Plains, the north, and the southwest. The intaglio printing enhances the bridge structures, stone textures, and carved details, while the offset printing renders the water surface and distant environment. The combination of realistic and atmospheric elements condenses the engineering beauty and historical atmosphere of these ancient bridges into the stamps.