China Post is scheduled to issue a set of seven special stamps, celebrating "World Natural Heritage - South China Karst" on April 28, 2022.
According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization, South China Karst is one of the world’s most spectacular examples of humid tropical to subtropical karst landscapes. It is a serial site spread over the provincial regions of Guizhou, Guangxi, Yunnan, and Chongqing and covers 97,125 hectares.
The set includes seven stamps, and the combined nominal value is 8.40 yuan. Among them, the third one features the karst landscape in Chongqing's Wulong District, and the sixth one is Jinfo Mountain in Nanchuan District.
Wulong and Nanchuan districts to hold activities
Of the seven stamps, two feature the karst landforms in Chongqing.
The third stamp is about "Wulong Karst." Located in Chongqing's Wulong District, the landscape includes three independent karst systems, Furong Cave, Three Natural Bridges, and Heavenly Pit, which is situated in Houping Township and caused by erosion. Among them, the three stone arch bridges of Tianlong Bridge, Qinglong Bridge, and Heilong Bridge are well-known worldwide as Asia's largest naturally occurring bridge cluster.
The stamp of Wulong Karst. (Photo provided to iChongqing)
The sixth stamp is about "Jinfo Mountain Karst" (Jinfoshan Karst). Jinfo Mountain, situated in Chongqing's Nanchuan District, is magnificent, unique, elegant, and beautiful. Known for the typical karst terrace landform, ancient high-altitude cave systems, colorful surficial karst landscape, rich biodiversity, and a time-honored method of producing nitrate through boiling, it is rare in South China, and also a prime example of karst terrace landform in the world.
The stamp of Jinfo Mountain Karst. (Photo provided to iChongqing)
From April 28 to May 5, Chongqing's Wulong District and Nanchuan District will hold colorful launch activities, and all the China Post offices in Chongqing will start selling special stamps and souvenirs.
Moreover, China Post will issue digital content to better display the stamps through the WeChat mini-program of "Chinese Stamp Encyclopedia," and people who love collecting stamps can watch them in augmented reality (AR).
Stories behind the stamps
Many typical karst landforms such as peak clusters, canyons, sinkholes, stone forests, and caves will appear on these stamps.
To design the stamp set, Yang Wenqing, a famous stamp designer, conducted many field trips and asked for advice from local experts. At last, he decided to use watercolor techniques. While highlighting the characteristics of the karst topography in South China, he gave it an artistic quality, thereby bringing together the two worlds of science and art.
These stamps are characterized by a compositional technique of filling the frame, a sophisticated and pleasing color scheme, and magnificent and amazing views, presenting the unique natural beauty of the karst landscapes in South China.