Scott No: -
Serial number: 2009-9
Values in set: 3
Date of issue: May 23, 2009
Denomination: 360 fen
Designer: Yang Wenqing
Size of stamps: 50 * 30 mm
Perforation: 113
Sheet composition: 12 (4 sets)
Printing process: Offset
Printing House: Shenyang Posts and Telecommunications Printing House

On May 23, 2009, the special stamp "Phoenix Ancient Town" (catalog number 2009-9) was officially issued. 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 Yang Wenqing and printed by Shenyang Post and Telecommunications Printing Factory in Liaoning Province using offset printing.

Located on the banks of the Tuojiang River in the Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture of Xiangxi, Hunan, Phoenix Ancient Town was listed as a National Historical and Cultural City in 2001. Known as "China's most beautiful small town," it has long been an important town in the Miao frontier region and a key node on the Tea Horse Road. The town preserves a complete layout from the Ming and Qing dynasties, integrating stilted houses along the river, ancient city walls and towers, and flagstone streets. It embodies the diverse folk cultures of the Tujia and Miao ethnic groups. The stamps feature three iconic landscapes of the ancient town, presenting its defensive architecture, ancient bridges over the Tuojiang River, and traditional streets, showcasing the harmonious blend of landscape and culture, and creating a cultural emblem for the Xiangxi region.

Stamp Designs and Historical Background:

North Gate

Image: The main subject is the North Gate Tower (Bihui Gate) of Phoenix Ancient Town, with the city wall built along the Tuojiang River, high eaves, and traditional black-awning boats moored on the river.
History: The North Gate is the best-preserved city gate in the ancient town, first built in the Qing Dynasty. It served both defensive and transportation functions. The tower, along with the stilted houses along the Tuojiang River, is one of Phoenix's most iconic landmarks, bearing witness to centuries of border defense history.
Significance: Represents the defensive military layout of Phoenix Ancient Town.

Rainbow Bridge

Image: A full view of the Rainbow Bridge over the Tuojiang River, a stone arch bridge spanning the river with two-story covered pavilions on top, surrounded by continuous stilted houses.
History: Built in the Ming Dynasty, the Rainbow Bridge, also known as the "Rainbow Wind and Rain Pavilion," was a key transportation route on the Tuojiang River. It served as a passage, marketplace, and viewing platform, making it a central landscape feature of the river.
Significance: A landmark bridge connecting the two sides of the Tuojiang River, embodying the integration of landscape and culture.

Ancient Street

Image: The stamp depicts the flagstone-paved Dongzheng Street, lined with traditional wooden shops, recreating the bustling atmosphere of the ancient town's main street.
History: Dongzheng Street is the core commercial street of Phoenix Ancient Town, formed during the Ming and Qing dynasties. Its crisscrossing alleys are home to many traditional residences and shops, preserving the town's commercial and folk culture.
Significance: Presents the vibrant and lively traditional market life of Phoenix Ancient Town.

Artistic and Design Features:

Format: Uniform horizontal long stamp format, with the large sheet featuring three continuous stamps arranged along the geographic layout of the Tuojiang River, providing a coherent narrative.
Painting Style: Hand-painted realistic landscapes with warm, soft tones, capturing the serene and misty atmosphere of the ancient town in Xiangxi.
Content Layout: The stamps follow the town's spatial layout, moving from the city gate to the river bridge and finally to the ancient street, integrating landscape and cultural architecture.
Regional Character: Highlights unique elements such as the Tuojiang River, stilted houses, and Xiangxi old streets, distinguishing this set from other ancient town-themed stamps.

This stamp set is a landmark scenic issue featuring the iconic Phoenix Ancient Town in Xiangxi, focusing on its cultural tourism image. Available in stamp set and large sheet formats, it is often collected together with other ancient town stamps such as Lijiang, Pingyao, and Wuzhen, making it an important modern issue for thematic collections on Hunan regional scenery and ancient architecture.