Scott No: -
Serial number: 2008-24
Values in set: 3
Date of issue: September 23, 2008
Denomination: 320 fen
Designer: Hou De
Size of stamps: 44 * 33 mm
Perforation: 13 * 12.5
Sheet composition: 12 (4 sets)
Printing process: Photogravure
Printing House: Beijing Postage Stamp Printing Works

On September 23, 2008, the commemorative stamp "50th Anniversary of the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region" (catalog number 2008-24) was officially issued. The set consists of three stamps with a total face value of 3.20 yuan, designed by Hou De and printed by Beijing Stamp Printing Works using the photogravure process. The Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region was established in 1958, and 2008 marked its 50th anniversary.

The Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region is a major settlement of the Hui ethnic group in China, located in the northwestern frontier. Over the past fifty years, Ningxia has achieved significant progress in energy development, ecological conservation, and ethnic unity. The stamp set, in a horizontal three-stamp continuous format, focuses on three themes: new energy development, desertification control and ecological projects, and the happy lives of the people. It presents the new face of the region, highlighting Ningxia's commitment to ecological conservation, the development of distinctive industries, and the harmonious coexistence of all ethnic groups, celebrating ethnic unity and the vision of building a better homeland.

Stamp Designs and Historical Background:

Wind Power

Image: A wind farm at the Helan Mountains, with rows of wind turbines standing on the Gobi desert, dotted with wildflowers.
Significance: The Helan Mountain wind farm is a landmark project in Ningxia's clean energy development, reflecting the region's efforts to develop green energy and pursue sustainable development.

Desert Oasis

Image: The Shapotou desert control demonstration area in Zhongwei, with straw checkerboard barriers and forests, and a train passing through the oasis.
Significance: Shapotou is a world-renowned example of desert control, demonstrating Ningxia's decades of efforts in combating desertification and transforming desert into oasis.

Harmonious Homeland

Image: People of various ethnic groups in traditional costumes singing and dancing, with distinctive Hui architecture in the background.
Significance: This scene symbolizes the mutual support and harmonious life of the Hui, Han, and other ethnic groups in Ningxia, reflecting the success of ethnic autonomy and social stability.

Artistic and Design Features:

The set features a uniform horizontal format, with the three stamps designed to connect and form a continuous scroll—the highlight of this set. The vibrant modern decorative style uses bright and lively colors. The three stamps follow a clear narrative progression: industrial development, ecological construction, and social harmony. The design incorporates the landscapes of the northwestern region and the cultural elements of the Hui ethnic group. The oval-shaped perforations add a distinctive feature, while the printing provides smooth color transitions and a coordinated overall style.

This stamp set is a classic issue for the autonomous region anniversary, with a highly recognizable three-stamp continuous format. Available in stamp set and large sheet formats, collectors often pair it with other autonomous region commemorative stamps, such as those for Xinjiang, Inner Mongolia, Guangxi, and Tibet, making it an important item for thematic collections on ethnic regional development, northwestern landscapes, and ecological conservation.