Scott No: -
Serial number: 2022-26
Values in set: 5
Date of issue: November 5, 2022
Denomination: 600 fen
Designer: Ma Lihang, Liu Bo, Yin Xiaofei
Size of stamps: 70 * 35 mm
Perforation: 13 * 13.5
Sheet composition: 12
Size of sheet: 240 * 190 mm
Printing process: Photogravure
Printing House: Beijing Postage Stamp Printing Works

China Post scheduled the issuance of a set of 5 commemorative stamps themed "National Parks" on November 5, 2022. The stamps are respectively themed after the Three-River-Source National Park, Giant Panda National Park, Northeast China Tiger and Leopard National Park, Hainan Tropical Rainforest National Park, and Wuyi Mountain National Park. The total face value of the complete set is 6.00 yuan, with a planned circulation of 7.6 million sets.

China's implementation of the national park system aims to preserve the authenticity and integrity of natural ecosystems, protect biodiversity, safeguard ecological security barriers, and leave valuable natural assets for future generations. It is a crucial initiative for China to promote natural ecological protection, build a Beautiful China, and advance the harmonious coexistence between humans and nature. On October 12, 2021, President Xi Jinping announced at the Leaders' Summit of the 15th Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity the official establishment of China's first batch of national parks, including the five aforementioned ones. These five national parks cover a total protected area of 230,000 square kilometers, spanning 10 provinces, and encompass nearly 30% of the terrestrial national key protected wild animal and plant species.

Covering a total area of 190,700 square kilometers in southwestern Qinghai Province, the Three-River-Source National Park is divided into three zones: the source areas of the Yangtze River, the Yellow River, and the Lancang River. With winding mountains and towering glaciers, the park serves as a typical example of an alpine ecosystem and a gene bank for alpine organisms. The beautiful and mysterious Three-River-Source region, boasting vast snowfields, numerous rivers, swamps and lakes, has long been known as the "Water Tower of China". It stunningly displays the geographical wonder that the three major rivers - the Yangtze River, the Yellow River, and the Lancang River - originate from the same area. The stamp incorporates elements such as Tibetan antelopes, wild yaks, Tibetan wild asses, Saussurea medusa, and Meconopsis horridula.

Stretching across Sichuan, Shaanxi, and Gansu provinces, the Giant Panda National Park covers 22,000 square kilometers and is home to over 70% of China's wild giant pandas. As an "umbrella-protected" ecological habitat and a global biodiversity hotspot, in addition to giant pandas, it also harbors rare wild animals and plants like snow leopards, Sichuan golden monkeys, takins, Davidia involucrata (dove trees), and Taxus wallichiana var. chinensis. Today, a wonderful picture of harmonious coexistence between humans and nature is gradually unfolding in the Giant Panda National Park. Its corresponding stamp features giant pandas, red pandas, Sichuan golden monkeys, Davidia involucrata, and Taxus wallichiana var. chinensis.

Spanning Jilin and Heilongjiang provinces, the Northeast China Tiger and Leopard National Park covers 14,100 square kilometers, acting as the primary breeding and habitat area for wild Amur tigers and Amur leopards in China. It is also a typical representative of temperate forest ecosystems. At present, the ecology of the park is constantly improving, and the population structure and scale of ungulate animals remain in a healthy state. The stamp includes elements such as Amur tigers, Amur leopards, sika deer, ginseng, and Taxus wallichiana var. chinensis.

Located in the central mountainous area of Hainan Island, the Hainan Tropical Rainforest National Park covers 4,269 square kilometers. It is not only the most forest-rich area on the island and an ecological security barrier for Hainan Island, but also boasts the most concentrated, diverse, well-preserved, and largest contiguous continental island-type tropical rainforest in China. As an important part of the world's tropical rainforests, it holds national representativeness and global conservation significance. The stamp features elements such as Cycas hainanensis, Papilionanthe sinica, Hainan gibbons, and Hainan Eld's deer.
Covering 1,280 square kilometers across Fujian and Jiangxi provinces, the Wuyi Mountain National Park is a typical representative of subtropical monsoon forest ecosystems and a treasure trove of flora and fauna in Southeast China. As a UNESCO World Heritage Site with both cultural and natural values, it is praised by Chinese and foreign biologists as the "Natural Botanical Garden", "Paradise for Birds", "Kingdom of Snakes", "World of Insects", and "Key to Studying Asian Amphibians and Reptiles". The stamp incorporates elements including Padus kwangsiensis, Senecio scandens, Tragopan caboti, Wuyi wood frogs, and golden Kaiser-i-Hind butterflies.

The stamps are designed based on photographic works and presented through graphic design techniques. The left side of each stamp displays the iconic landscape of the corresponding national park; the circular perforations present some representative animals of the park by combining carved lines with images; and the right side shows some typical plants of the park. The overall design highlights the magnificent natural landscapes and rich ecological resources of the five national parks.

Designed by Ma Lihang, Liu Bo, and Yin Xiaofei, the stamp set is printed by Beijing Stamp Printing Co., Ltd. using photogravure technology. The circular perforated parts are printed with colorless orange fluorescent ink. When observed under a purple light, these parts produce a telescope-like effect and make the images of wild animals more vivid.