Scott Number: -
Serial number: 2011-29
Values in set: 2 + 1
Denomination: 240 fen + 600 fen
Date of issue: October 10, 2011
Size of stamp: 30 * 40 mm
Perforation: 13.5
Sheet composition: 20 for Value I; 8 for Value II (4 sets)
Size of Sheet:
150 * 240 mm for Value I;
146 * 146 mm for Value II
Size of S/S: 152 * 78 mm
Size of S/S stamp: 20 * 70 mm
Perforation of S/S: 13
Designer: Xian Tianxing, Zou Yuli, Yang Wenqing
Printing process: photogravure
Printer: Beijing Postage Stamp Printing House

On November 11, 2011, the commemorative stamp "China 2011 – 27th Asian International Stamp Exhibition" (catalog number 2011-29) was officially issued. The set consists of two stamps, each with a face value of 1.20 yuan, for a total face value of 2.40 yuan, with a souvenir sheet (face value 6 yuan) issued on the same day. The stamps were designed by Yang Wenqing, Xia Tianxing, and Zou Yuli, and printed by Beijing Stamp Printing Works using the photogravure process.

The 27th Asian International Stamp Exhibition was held in Wuxi, Jiangsu, as an important Asian philatelic cultural event. The stamp set features representative cultural symbols of Wuxi, combining "cultural artifacts with Jiangnan scenic spots," integrating the intangible cultural heritages of purple clay teapot art and Huishan clay figurines, while the souvenir sheet features a famous painting by the Yuan Dynasty Wuxi artist Ni Zan. Rooted in the cultural heritage of the Jiangnan region, the stamps leverage the stamp exhibition as a platform for Asian philatelic exchange, showcasing Wuxi's profound historical and cultural heritage to domestic and international audiences, and promoting cultural exchange and mutual learning among Asian countries.

Stamp Designs and Historical Background:

Square Teapot

Image: The main subject is a Qing Dynasty Yixing purple clay square teapot, with the Second Spring under Heaven at the Xihui Garden and the Yilan Hall in the background.
History: The purple clay square teapot is a classic form in traditional purple clay art, with Yixing purple clay culture having a long history. The Second Spring under Heaven is a iconic cultural landmark of Wuxi. Together, they echo the Jiangnan tea culture of "spring water brewing fine tea."
Significance: A cultural embodiment of Jiangnan purple clay art and spring-tea culture.

A'Fu (Clay Figurine)

Image: The main subject is the national intangible cultural heritage Huishan clay figurine "Da A'Fu," with the Qingming Bridge historic district of the Grand Canal in the background.
History: Huishan clay figurines are a representative folk art craft of Wuxi. A'Fu carries the folk meaning of blessing and good fortune. Qingming Bridge is a landmark of the ancient canal, witnessing a thousand years of Jiangnan water town commerce and culture.
Significance: A classic representative of Wuxi's folk culture and the canal water town landscape.

Souvenir Sheet: Autumn Scene at a Fishing Village

Image: The main image is the famous work "Autumn Scene at a Fishing Village" by the Yuan Dynasty artist Ni Zan, bordered by Taihu Lake scenery and the Lingshan Buddhist scenic area.
History: Ni Zan was a native of Wuxi, and "Autumn Scene at a Fishing Village" is a classic ink painting of the Yuan Dynasty, capturing the serene beauty of Taihu Lake's landscape.
Significance: A pinnacle representation of Jiangnan traditional painting and calligraphy, elevating the Jiangnan cultural theme of the entire set.

Artistic and Design Features:

Format: Uniform vertical stamp format with circular inset compositions, creating a novel and elegant visual effect.
Design Approach: Innovative combination of "intangible cultural heritage artifacts + local scenic spots," pairing an object with a scene, closely linked to Wuxi's regional identity.
Color Palette: Soft and elegant tones, fitting the gentle character of the Jiangnan water town.
Souvenir Sheet: The use of an ancient ink painting complements the folk arts and crafts of the stamp set, creating a rich and varied appeal.

This stamp set is a landmark modern stamp issue commemorating the Asian International Stamp Exhibition, covering themes of philatelic events, purple clay pottery, folk clay figurines, ancient painting and calligraphy, the Grand Canal, and Jiangnan regional culture. Available in multiple formats including the stamp set, miniature sheet, souvenir sheet, and a dual-souvenir sheet variation, it is an important collectible for thematic collections on stamp exhibitions, Wuxi local themes, and intangible cultural heritage arts and crafts.