Scott No: -
Serial number: 2010-16
Values in set: 4
Denomination: 480 fen
Date of issue: June 28, 2010
Designer: Guo Chenghui
Size of stamp: 50 * 30 mm
Perforation: 13
Sheet composition:
12 for Sheet I;
8 for Sheet II
Size of sheet:
234 * 155 mm for Sheet I;
230 * 125 mm for Sheet II
Printing process: gravure
Printer: Beijing Postage Stamp Printing House

On June 28, 2010, the special stamp "Rhythm of the Pearl River – Guangzhou" (catalog number 2010-16) was officially issued. The set consists of four stamps, each with a face value of 1.20 yuan, for a total face value of 4.80 yuan. The stamps were designed by Guo Chenghui and printed by Beijing Stamp Printing Works using the photogravure process. This is the first special stamp set in New China to feature the entire city of Guangzhou as its theme, issued during the preparation for the 16th Asian Games in Guangzhou.

The Pearl River has nurtured the civilization of Guangzhou for millennia. Guangzhou has long been known as the "Goat City" and the "Pearl of the South." The stamps follow four themes—historical legends, culture and arts, urban life, and commerce and exhibitions—selecting landmarks along the Pearl River. Flowing water patterns connect the four stamps. The designs blend the ancient legend of the Five Goats, modern cultural architecture, the Guangzhou cityscape, and the city's thousand-year commercial heritage, presenting both the city's profound history and its modernization achievements. As a city card for the Guangzhou Asian Games, the set showcases the charm of Lingnan culture to domestic and international audiences.

Stamp Designs and Historical Background:

Five Goats Bearing Grain

Image: The main subject is the Five Goats Sculpture in Yuexiu Park, with the city flower of Guangzhou (kapok) in the foreground, the Guangzhou city skyline along the Pearl River in the midground, and the Baiyun Mountains in the background.
History: The Five Goats sculpture originates from a classic Guangzhou legend: five immortals riding goats and bearing rice ears descended on Chuting, praying for the end of famine. The name "Goat City" originates from this legend, making it the most iconic cultural symbol of Guangzhou.
Significance: Represents the ancient origins and historical heritage of Guangzhou.

Guangzhou Opera House

Image: The main subject is the unique pebble-shaped architecture of the Guangzhou Opera House, with cultural buildings such as the Guangzhou Museum and Xinghai Concert Hall in the background.
History: The Guangzhou Opera House is a premier venue for performing arts in South China. Its distinctive modern architecture is highly recognizable, hosting operas, symphonies, and dramas.
Significance: An iconic symbol of the development of modern high culture and arts in Guangzhou.

Song of the Pearl River

Image: Centered on the Canton Tower (known as the "Waist"), the design also features the Liede Bridge and the West Tower, with fireworks and light effects.
History: The Zhujiang New Town is Guangzhou's modern central business district, with the Canton Tower as the city's new landmark. The night views along the Pearl River are popular spots for both residents and tourists.
Significance: Presents the modern urban landscape along the Pearl River, symbolizing a vibrant and prosperous new urban life.

Guangzhou International Convention and Exhibition Center

Image: The forefront features the Pazhou Convention and Exhibition Center, with the Thirteen Hongs arcade buildings on the left.
History: The Pazhou Convention Center is one of the largest exhibition bases in South China. The Thirteen Hongs bear witness to Guangzhou's thousand-year maritime trade history. The ancient and modern buildings together highlight Guangzhou's enduring commercial heritage.
Significance: Represents Guangzhou's commercial tradition and the development of its modern exhibition economy.

Artistic and Design Features:

Format: Uniform horizontal rectangular stamp format, with coordinated compositions across the four stamps, creating a consistent visual style.
Core Element: Continuous Pearl River wave patterns appear in all stamps, using the river as an internal narrative thread.
Color Coding: Each stamp uses a distinct background color—teal, light blue, red, and warm orange—to distinguish the four themes of history, art, urban life, and commerce.
Ancient-Modern Contrast: Historical sculptures contrast with modern skyscrapers, and traditional arcade buildings contrast with modern exhibition centers, reflecting the city's development and inheritance.

This stamp set is a landmark special issue for the city of Guangzhou. It covers Lingnan cityscapes, Pearl River culture, modern architecture, and local history and legends, while also being closely connected to the 16th Asian Games. Available in large sheet and miniature sheet formats, with additional Asian Games-related derivative sheets, it is suitable for thematic collections on cityscapes, Lingnan culture, Guangdong regional themes, and modern architecture, making it an important modern issue in the collection of southern regional themes.