Scott No: -
Serial number: 2008-10
Values in set: 6 + 1
Date of issue: May 10, 2008
Denomination: 720 fen + 600 fen
Designer: Xiao Yutian
Engraver: Qian Zhiming, Xu Yongcai, Zong Weixiong, Ma Rong, Song Weiyun, Zhang Yu, Peng Weidong, Lu Qinzhen
Size of stamps: 50 * 38 mm
Perforation: 12
Sheet composition: 16
Size of S/S: 120 * 90 mm
Size of S/S stamp: 50 * 60 mm
Printing process: Engraving and offset
Printing House: Henan Postage Stamp Printing Works

On May 10, 2008, the special stamp "Summer Palace" (catalog number 2008-10) was officially issued. The set consists of six stamps, each with a face value of 1.20 yuan, for a total face value of 7.20 yuan, with a souvenir sheet (face value 6 yuan) issued concurrently. The stamps were designed by Xiao Yutian and printed by Henan Post and Telecommunications Printing Factory using a combination of offset and intaglio (engraving) printing.

The Summer Palace, located in the western suburbs of Beijing, was formerly known as the Garden of Clear Ripples. It is the largest and best-preserved imperial garden of the Qing Dynasty in China, often referred to as the "Imperial Garden Museum." It is a UNESCO World Heritage site. The garden combines the grandeur of northern imperial architecture with the artistic conception of southern garden design, built around the natural landscape of Longevity Hill and Kunming Lake. The stamps feature six iconic landscapes within the garden, with the souvenir sheet featuring the Tower of Buddhist Incense, the central focal point of the entire garden. Together, they present the architectural beauty and landscape of the Summer Palace from multiple angles, preserving the art of classical Chinese gardens, highlighting the value of this precious historical and cultural heritage, and raising public awareness of cultural preservation.

Stamp Designs and Historical Background:

Seventeen-Arch Bridge

Image: The Seventeen-Arch Bridge spanning Kunming Lake, connecting the East Causeway to Nanhu Island.
Significance: The Seventeen-Arch Bridge is an iconic structure of the Summer Palace, with its seventeen arches combining both transportation and scenic functions. It is a representative example of large-scale stone arch bridges from the Qing Dynasty.

Long Corridor

Image: The painted Long Corridor along the shore of Kunming Lake, adorned with traditional paintings.
Significance: Over 700 meters long, the Long Corridor features more than 10,000 landscape and figure paintings, making it the longest art gallery in the world, serving both as a walkway and a viewing platform.

Marble Boat

Image: The Marble Boat on the western shore of Kunming Lake, surrounded by autumn trees.
Significance: Also known as the Qing Yan Boat, the Marble Boat was first built during the Qianlong era. Its unique Western-influenced stone architecture symbolizes the wish for a peaceful and prosperous country.

Garden of Harmonious Pleasures

Image: The Garden of Harmonious Pleasures in winter snow.
Significance: Modeled after the Jichang Garden in Wuxi, this "garden within a garden" is elegant and refined, capturing the essence of Jiangnan garden design.

Jade Belt Bridge

Image: The white stone Jade Belt Bridge, with its high arch resembling a jade belt, reflected in the water.
Significance: The Jade Belt Bridge is a key structure on the West Causeway, known for its elegant and graceful design, representing a classic example of a Chinese arch bridge.

Back Lake

Image: The Back Lake area with its small bridges and dense forests.
Significance: The Back Lake is a tranquil, secluded area replicating the scenery of Jiangnan water towns, contrasting with the open expanse of the front lake.

Souvenir Sheet: Tower of Buddhist Incense

Image: The Tower of Buddhist Incense on Longevity Hill, surrounded by tiered halls.
Significance: The Tower of Buddhist Incense is the visual center of the Summer Palace, offering a panoramic view of the entire garden. It is the spiritual heart of the imperial garden.

Artistic and Design Features:

The set features a uniform horizontal format with a gongbi (meticulous brushwork) painting style, enhanced by the combined offset and intaglio printing technique, resulting in delicate and three-dimensional lines. The six stamps skillfully incorporate different seasons and times of day, presenting sunny, autumn, snowy, and moonlit scenes, enriching the visual narrative. The souvenir sheet uses a gold-toned antique background with a grand composition, presenting a panoramic view of the Longevity Hill architectural complex. The engraved lines clearly reproduce the architectural details, with warm and elegant colors that fully capture the magnificent yet refined character of the imperial garden.

This stamp set is a classic issue on the theme of World Cultural Heritage and imperial gardens. The offset-intaglio printing technique is of high quality, and the set was recognized as the Best Stamp of the year. Available in multiple formats, it is often collected together with other Beijing ancient architecture stamps, such as the Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven, and Great Wall, making it an important item for thematic collections on classical gardens and World Heritage sites.