Scott No: 3366-9
Serial number: 2004-13
Values in set: 4
Denomination: 320 fen
Date of issue: June 25, 2004
Designer: Ying Tianqi
Size of stamps: 40*30 mm
Perforation: 11*11.5
Sheet composition: 8
Printing process: gravure-engraving
Printer: Beijing Postage Stamp Printing House

This special stamp set, Ancient Villages in Southern Anhui – Xidi and Hongcun, was issued on June 25, 2004. It consists of four stamps with a total face value of 3.20 yuan, designed by Ying Tianqi, with border design by Hao Xudong, and engraving by Hu Zhenyuan, Li Qingfa, Jiang Weijie, and Hao Ou. The stamps were printed by Beijing Stamp Printing Works using a combination of offset and intaglio (engraving) printing. Xidi and Hongcun, located in Yixian County, Anhui Province, are UNESCO World Heritage sites and exemplary representatives of Hui-style ancient residential architecture. Nestled between mountains and water, with intricate water systems, white walls, and black tiles, they embody the clan culture and traditional wisdom of Huizhou. This stamp set captures the iconic scenes of these two ancient villages in a new Hui-style printmaking style.

Stamp Designs and Historical Background

Memorial Archway

The stamp features the Hu Wenguang Memorial Archway in Xidi, a three-bay, four-pillar, five-story stone archway with exquisite carvings. The solid stonework is a testament to the high level of Huizhou stone carving craftsmanship and serves as a landmark at the entrance of Xidi.

Ancient Architecture Cluster

Layers of Hui-style residential buildings are depicted, with soaring horse-head walls rising in a rhythmic pattern. The simple white walls and weathered wooden structures recreate the street scene of Xidi's clustered ancient residences.

South Lake

The stamp depicts South Lake in Hongcun, with the calm water reflecting the white walls of the ancient houses. The sparse trees along the shore and the blending of sky and water create a gentle and ethereal lakeside scene.

Moon Pond

The scene features the crescent-shaped Moon Pond in the center of Hongcun, surrounded by residential buildings. A faint moon hangs in the sky, creating a quiet and serene atmosphere. This scene captures the poetic charm of the "ox stomach" water system, the core of Hongcun's layout.

Artistic and Design Features

The horizontal format features a printmaking-style texture, with thick and solid engraved lines and soft, elegant tones of black, white, and gray, accurately capturing the texture of Hui-style architecture. The combined offset and intaglio printing provides a rustic and solid texture. The stamps incorporate multiple anti-counterfeiting features, including security paper, security ink, and fluorescent spray codes. The serene and distant imagery preserves the simple and elegant charm of the ancient villages in southern Anhui.

This stamp set is a special issue on the theme of World Heritage ancient architecture and residential buildings, suitable for thematic collections on Hui-style architecture and ancient Chinese villages.