Serial number: 2009-14
Scott Number: -
Values in set: 3
Denomination: 360 fen
Date of issue: July 25, 2009
Size of stamp: 60 * 30 mm
Perforation: 13.5 * 13
Sheet composition: 12 (four sets)
Size of sheet: 220 * 170 mm
Printing process: photogravure
Designer of stamp: Huang Huaqiang
Printer: Beijing Postage Stamp Printing House

On July 25, 2009, the special stamp "Sanjiangyuan Nature Reserve" (catalog number 2009-14) was officially issued, with the first-day ceremony held in Xining, Qinghai. The set consists of three stamps, each with a face value of 1.20 yuan, for a total face value of 3.60 yuan. The stamps were designed by Huang Huaqiang, with photography by Li Quanju and aerial remote sensing images provided by the China Aero Geophysical Survey and Remote Sensing Center for Natural Resources, and printed by Beijing Stamp Printing Works using the photogravure process.

Sanjiangyuan, located in the southern part of Qinghai Province in the hinterland of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, is the source of three major rivers: the Yangtze, the Yellow River, and the Lancang River. Known as the "Water Tower of China," it is the largest high-altitude natural wetland reserve in China and a core area of biodiversity on the plateau. The stamps feature iconic natural landscapes from the sources of the Yangtze, Yellow, and Lancang rivers, presenting diverse landforms such as glaciers, plateau lakes, and braided river systems from an aerial perspective. Through these stamps, the magnificent plateau ecology of Sanjiangyuan is showcased, raising public awareness of the ecological value of the water source and promoting the protection of the river source environments.

Stamp Designs and Historical Background:

Geladandong

Image: A high-altitude aerial view of the Geladandong snow mountain glacier group, with continuous snow peaks and vast glaciers.
History: The Geladandong snow mountain is the source of the Tuotuo River, the main source of the Yangtze River. The massive glaciers continuously melt to nourish the Yangtze River system, representing a typical example of a plateau glacier ecosystem.

Eling Lake

Image: A view of the large freshwater lake Eling Lake, with its blue waters reflecting the surrounding lakeside meadows and clouds.
History: Eling Lake, together with Zhaling Lake, forms the two sister lakes that are the source of the Yellow River. They store source water and maintain the hydrological balance of the upper Yellow River, representing the most important plateau wetland in the source area.

Zhaqu

Image: A view of the unique braided river system of Zhaqu, the upper reaches of the Lancang River, with crisscrossing channels and dense water networks.
History: Zhaqu is the upper source of the Lancang River, flowing through the southern plateau of Qinghai. The broad river valley forms large wetlands, supporting rare plateau plants and animals, representing the unique hydrological landscape of the Lancang River source.

Artistic and Design Features:

Format: Uniform horizontal wide format, with the three stamps printed continuously to form a complete panoramic view of Sanjiangyuan, creating a visually coherent and expansive effect.
Technique: Combines aerial remote sensing imagery with landscape photography, faithfully reproducing the unique topography of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau with clear, expansive colors that highlight the majestic natural character of the plateau.
Geographic Narrative: The stamps correspond to the sources of the Yangtze, Yellow, and Lancang rivers in sequence, providing a clear and complete structure.
Anti-Counterfeiting Feature: The stamps feature oval-shaped perforations, a distinctive and highly recognizable security feature.

This stamp set is a rare modern issue focusing on the ecological protection of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and river sources, with a highly visual three-stamp continuous format. It covers themes of nature reserves, plateau wetlands, and the river culture of the Yangtze, Yellow, and Lancang rivers. Available in stamp set and large sheet formats, it is often collected together with other scenic and ecological stamps such as Qinghai Lake, Hoh Xil, and Jiuzhaigou.