Scott No: -
Serial number: 2016-22
Values in set: 9
Date of issue: August 20, 2016
Denomination: 1320 fen
Designer: Xu Renlong, Zhang Jiping
Size of stamps: 60 * 30 mm
Perforation: 13.5 * 13
Sheet composition: 9 (1 sets)
Sheet Size: 220 * 120 mm
Printing process: Offset + Engraving
Printing House: Beijing Post Stamp Works

Issued by China Post on August 20, 2016, these special stamps offer a panoramic presentation of the Ming Dynasty Great Wall. The set consists of 9 stamps with the catalog number 2016-22.

The Great Wall, a magnificent project in ancient China, embodies the diligence and wisdom of the Chinese nation. It stands as a symbol of Chinese historical civilization and a treasure of human history and culture. With a history spanning over 2,000 years, the Great Wall was first constructed in the 4th century BC by vassal states such as Yan, Zhao, and Qin in the agropastoral transitional zones of their northern borders. Later, successive dynasties—including the Central Plains dynasties of Qin, Han, Sui, and Ming, as well as ethnic minority regimes like Northern Wei, Northern Qi, and Jin—carried out construction on varying scales. Recognized for its unique historical, artistic, and cultural value, the Great Wall was inscribed as a whole on the World Heritage List in 1987. Most of the existing Great Wall relics date back to the 14th-century Ming Dynasty.

The 9 stamps in "The Great Wall" set feature the following themes: Mountains and Seas Guarding the Pass, Natural Moat of Ji and Liao, Majesty of Yan and Zhao, Barrier of the Capital Region, Strategic Passes of the Three Jin States, Dragon Coiling Along the Great River, Gazing North from the Plateau, Fortress City in the Desert, and Ancient Silk Road Route. The full set has a total face value of 13.20 yuan.

Designed as a nine-stamp panorama strip, the set showcases the natural landscapes and cultural sites along the Ming Dynasty Great Wall, stretching from Hushan in Liaoning Province in the east to Jiayuguan Pass in Gansu Province in the west. It traverses nine provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities directly under the Central Government: Liaoning, Hebei, Tianjin, Beijing, Shanxi, Inner Mongolia, Shaanxi, Ningxia, and Gansu. With intricate details and a grand overall composition, the stamps capture the Great Wall’s imposing momentum and profound history.

Mountains and Seas Guarding the Pass depicts the Shanhaiguan Pass in Hebei and the Hushan Great Wall along the Yalu River in Dandong, Liaoning, which echoes it in the distance.

Natural Moat of Ji and Liao shows the Great Wall extending east and west from Shanhaiguan Pass, covering the eastern and central sections of the Liaodong and Ji Garrisons of the Ming Great Wall.

Majesty of Yan and Zhao features the western section of the Ji Garrison Great Wall in the Ming Dynasty, a strategic stretch built primarily to defend Beijing.

Barrier of the Capital Region presents the inner and outer lines of the Ming Great Wall in Beijing and Hebei.

Strategic Passes of the Three Jin States illustrates the inner and outer Ming Great Wall in Shanxi Province.

Dragon Coiling Along the Great River portrays the section where the Great Wall intersects with the Yellow River in Shanxi and Shaanxi.

Gazing North from the Plateau shows the Great Wall of the Yulin Garrison in the Ming Dynasty, situated on the Loess Plateau of Shaanxi Province.

Fortress City in the Desert depicts the Great Wall of the Ningxia and Guyuan Garrisons in the Ming Dynasty.

Ancient Silk Road Route features the Great Wall of the Gansu Garrison in the Ming Dynasty, which lies along the Silk Road.

The launch ceremony of "The Great Wall" special stamps was held at the China Great Wall Museum on August 20, 2016.