Serial number: 2004-24
Valuesin set: 12
Denomination: 960 fen
Date of issue: October 1, 2004
Designer: Hao Xudong
Size of stamp: 50*30mm
Perforation: 13*12.5
Sheet composition: 8
Printing process: Gravure
Printer: Beijing Postage Stamp Printing House

The special‑issue stamp set Scenery of China’s Borderlands was issued on October 1, 2004. The set consists of twelve stamps with a combined face value of 9.60 yuan. A mini-sheet was also released at a selling price of 12.00 yuan. Designed by Hao Xudong, with Chen Yisi as the responsible editor, the stamps were printed by Beijing Stamp Printing Factory using the photogravure process. Based on authentic photographic works, the stamp set features twelve representative natural borderland landscapes stretching from north to south and east to west across China, presented as a philatelic tribute marking the 55th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China.

China boasts a vast territory, a long land boundary and a winding coastline. Its inland and maritime borders host an extraordinarily diverse range of landforms, including frozen primeval forests in Northeast China, undulating rocky island shores in the east, humid tropical rainforests and towering snow‑capped mountains in the southwest, as well as vast high‑altitude deserts in the northwest and expansive grasslands in the north. Ranging from boreal coniferous forests to tropical rainforests, and from oceanic islets to the Roof of the World, varied natural environments form distinctive scrolls of mountains and rivers. Each view serves as a vivid miniature of China’s territorial features. Spanning the full geographical breadth of the country, this stamp set links the magnificent landscapes along China’s frontier. The twelve frozen natural scenes portray the grandeur and diversity of the splendid motherland, evoking affection for the homeland. Through these tiny stamps, viewers may appreciate the boundless beauty of Chinese territory and strengthen territorial awareness and national pride.

Stamp Designs and Historical Background

Forests of the Greater and Lesser Khingan Mountains

The artwork depicts snow‑bound primeval coniferous forests of the Greater and Lesser Khingan Mountains in winter. Trees are blanketed by snow beneath a quiet, vast snowfield, capturing the unique winter charm of the boreal forest on China’s northeastern frontier.

Lakes in the Yalu River Basin

A bird’s‑eye view reveals winding river‑lake waterways in the upper reaches of the Yalu River. Clear waters encircle layered woodlands, where mountains and rivers blend, portraying the gentle and picturesque riparian scenery of the northeastern border valley.

Yellow Sea Rocky Coast

The design shows ochre‑red coastal rocks eroded by ocean waves. Surges beat against the shore while sunset glow spills over the sea, illustrating the imposing coastal landform along China’s eastern continental maritime boundary.

Zhoushan Archipelago

At dusk, islands rest upon the sea as golden sunset light covers the bay. Scattered islets compose the tranquil, expansive coastal view of the East China Sea archipelago.

Taiwan Coastline

Steep sea‑cliffs meet sapphire‑blue seawater, with gentle waves lapping narrow beaches. The stamp presents the precipitous yet graceful coastal natural scenery on the eastern shore of Taiwan Island.

Xisha Islands

An aerial perspective captures sandy islets of the South China Sea surrounded by turquoise waters. The translucent blue ocean highlights the pure, far‑reaching marine beauty of the Xisha Archipelago.

Karst Landforms in Southern Guangxi

Peak forests rise beside water, whose surface mirrors elegant conical karst clusters. Serene waters and mountains depict the idyllic karst landscape typical of the southern Guangxi border region.

Rainforests in Southern Yunnan

Massive banyan trees display tangled spreading roots beneath deep, luxuriant woodland canopies, reproducing the vibrant, thriving ecosystem of primeval tropical rainforest on China’s southern Yunnan frontier.

Mount Qomolangma

The snow‑capped peak rises majestically against a clear blue sky. Its snow‑covered massif conveys the sacred and overwhelming alpine grandeur of the world’s highest mountain.

Pamir Plateau

Plateau lakes lie smooth as mirrors, with snow‑peaks perfectly reflected on the water surface. The pure, peaceful scene portrays the remote, boundless wilderness of the Pamir Plateau.

Badain Jaran Desert

Flowing golden sand dunes display delicate undulating textures, dotted with sparse desert trees. The stamp captures the immense, spectacular desert landscape of Northwest China.

Hulunbuir Grassland

Endless emerald meadows stretch far into the distance, with meandering rivers winding across the green plain, painting a picture of the rich, open grasslands on China’s northern frontier.

Artistic Design Features

The horizontal‑format stamps adopt artistically processed real‑life photographs. Each individual design carries a concise, grand composition and a consistent independent colour palette that accentuates the inherent majestic beauty of natural landforms. Arranged as a whole, the series forms a continuous epic landscape scroll. Photogravure printing delivers delicate, translucent colour gradients, faithfully reproducing subtle light‑and‑shadow variations across snow‑peaks, blue seas, forests and deserts. Anti‑counterfeiting measures including security paper and fluorescent coding are applied. The souvenir sheet features Tiananmen as the central gutter motif, with the twelve stamps arranged around it. The overall layout is solemn and magnificent, echoing the National Day commemorative theme.

This special‑issue stamp set is a tribute‑themed release showcasing national territorial landscapes, issued together with a souvenir sheet. It is well‑suited for thematic philatelic collections focusing on natural scenery and National Day commemorations.