Scott No: 3471-5
Serial number: 2006-3
Values in set: 5
Date of issue: February 12, 2006
Denomination: 470 mm
Designer: Shang Yu
Artists: Zhang Yinghua, Zhang Mingliang, Lu Youchang, Chen Lizhen, Yang Xiaoyan
Size of stamps: 30*40 mm
Perforation: 13.5*13
Sheet composition:
Sheet I: 20, 150*240 mm
Sheet II: 10(2 sets), 190*136 mm
Printing process: Photogravure
Printing House: Beijing Postage Stamp Printing Works

This stamp set was issued on February 12, 2006. It consists of five stamps with a total face value of 4.10 yuan, designed by Guo Chenghui, with Shi Yuan serving as the responsible editor, and printed by Beijing Stamp Printing Works using the photogravure process.

Folk lanterns are a traditional Chinese folk craft that has been passed down for thousands of years. During the Lantern Festival, people light and display lanterns, expressing their wishes for good fortune and blessings. This stamp set features five classic lanterns from different regions, each with its own local characteristics, showcasing the exquisite and brilliant craftsmanship of Chinese lantern making and presenting the diverse and colorful culture of the Lantern Festival.

Stamp Designs and Historical Background

Fish Lantern

A dynamic and colorful fish-shaped lantern with finely detailed scales. In Chinese culture, the fish symbolizes abundance and surplus, making it a representative auspicious lantern of the Lantern Festival in the Jiangnan region.

Lotus Lantern

A lantern shaped like a blooming lotus flower, with layered petals that are warm and elegant. The lotus symbolizes purity and harmony, making it a widely popular traditional auspicious lantern.

Rabbit Lantern

A lively and adorable white rabbit-shaped lantern, with a round and charming shape. It is a favorite among children during the Lantern Festival, embodying the joyful and playful spirit of the holiday.

Dragon and Phoenix Lantern

A lantern combining the forms of the dragon and the phoenix, with intricate and ornate decorations. As traditional symbols of good fortune, the dragon and phoenix represent prosperity and happiness.

Hundred Flowers Lantern

A lantern adorned with various floral patterns, creating a magnificent and grand appearance. The blooming flowers symbolize prosperity and splendor, capturing the lively and festive atmosphere of the Lantern Festival.

Artistic and Design Features

The five stamps share a uniform vertical format, with photogravure printing providing bright and vivid colors that delicately capture the luminous quality of the lanterns. The stamps are available in large sheet and miniature sheet formats, with border decorations featuring traditional patterns. The overall style is festive and elegant, fully presenting the exquisite craftsmanship of folk lanterns.

This stamp set is a special issue on Chinese folk crafts, available in multiple collectible formats, making it suitable for thematic collections on folk culture and intangible heritage.