Scott No: 3516-9
Serial number: 2006-16
Values in set: 4
Date of issue: July 8th, 2006
Denomination: 320 fen
Designer: Sun Liming
Size of stamps: 50*30 mm
Perforation: 13*12.5
Sheet composition: 16
Printing process: Photogravure
Printing House: Beijing Postage Stamp Printing Works

This stamp set was issued on July 8, 2006. It consists of four stamps with a total face value of 3.20 yuan, designed by Sun Liming, with Chen Yisi serving as the responsible editor, and printed by Beijing Stamp Printing Works using the photogravure process.

Kanas, located in the Altai Mountains of northern Xinjiang, is a national nature reserve that preserves a complete and pristine ecosystem of glaciers, lakes, forests, and grasslands. This stamp set features four iconic landscapes, presenting the captivating beauty of this unspoiled land throughout the seasons and raising awareness of the importance of protecting the plateau's natural environment.

Stamp Designs and Historical Background

Kanas Lake

A sweeping aerial view of the narrow lake, surrounded by towering snow-capped mountains and hardy coniferous forests along the shore. The clear water shimmers with a deep blue glow under the reflection of the snowy peaks, capturing the serene and majestic winter scenery of this alpine lake.

Wolong Bay

The river forms a green pool encircled by forests, with a tree-covered island in the center resembling a resting dragon. The surrounding forests are lush and verdant, and the clear water reflects the vibrant greenery of summer, presenting a lively and vibrant scene.

Shenxian Bay

Broad and gentle river meadows stretch along the banks, with wild animals occasionally wandering across the green fields. The river winds through the landscape, with scattered trees creating a fresh and vibrant scene of spring vitality.

Moon Bay

The river traces a graceful curve through golden birch forests, resembling a crescent moon resting in the valley. The autumn forest is bathed in warm golden hues, with the river flowing like a jade belt through the colorful woods, creating one of Kanas's most poetic and iconic landscapes.

Artistic and Design Features

The horizontal stamps offer a broad and open view, with a rich oil painting style and full, vibrant color layers. The photogravure printing delicately captures the unique interplay of light and shadow on the lake, forests, and snow-capped peaks. The four scenes correspond to the four seasons, fully presenting the pure and pristine natural beauty of Kanas.

This stamp set is a special issue on western natural scenery and ecology, suitable for thematic collections on Xinjiang landscapes and nature reserves.