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China’s 2022 stamp program 中国邮政

by | Feb 1, 2022

The best thing about China’s 2022 stamp program is tigers. The best topic possible for a stamp.  But I’m not biased. 🙄 For this year’s theme The Year of the Tiger, China Post hired Feng Dazhong to design the 42nd stamp in the long running Chinese New Year series. You can get a bigger eyeful of tiger designs from around the world on the Year of the Tiger page. If that isn’t enough stripped beauty for you, China Post will bring us 6 more tigers in September to celebrate the cultural importance of tigers in Chinese society. 

What else does 2022 hold?     

  • Beijing Olympics
  • another animation set
  • space stations and scientists
  • traditional opera
  • national parks & world heritage sites
  • cultural heritage – intangible and other
  • classical masterpieces

How’s that for a sampling of the 2022 program?  

A lot to talk about, a lot to explore.  I’ve begun including more names and topics in the original Chinese because I’m never too sure they translate correctly. If you spot a wonky translation please let me know. I’m always happy to correct information. I’m the only writer & editor here at Bitter Grounds, so there are bound to be errors. I’ve been grateful when readers have taken time to offer clarification and help. 

Cheers
Catpaw

January

Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (RCEP)

Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement

Inauguration-of-Regional-Comprehensive-Economic-Partnership

1 stamp, sheets of 10
photogravure 

Designer: Yu Qiyuan | 于秋艳
Previous designs included the  2020 Mount Everest Elevation Survey cover, 2020 Beijing 2022 winter Olympic and Paralympic Mascots covers & postcards, 2020 Philatelic Week cover, 20197th World Military Games and 2019 Magnificent 70 Years

Release date: January 1, 2022


Year of the Tiger

Year of the Tiger cancel Jan 5, 2022 

Guoyun Changlong & Huyun Jixiang

Year of the Tiger 

China - Year of the Tiger 2022 FDC 

Year of the tiger sheet twoYear-of-the-Tiger-2022 sheet

2 stamps, FDC, cancel, 2 mini sheets of 6, 2 sheets of 20
offset lithography

This is the 42nd year China has issued a Lunar New Year stamp, with the first issued 1980

… Feng has been drawing tigers since he was young. At that time, due to lack of publications, he often took bus to a zoo for observation and had narrowly escaped from tigers several times. He is a national first-class painter, an expert enjoying the special allowance of the State Council and also the president of the Artists Association in Liaoning Province. 

“Animals also have happiness and sorrow, so the painting of the tiger needs to break the code, break through its animal nature to convey a spiritual emotion,” Feng said. “Paying attention to portraying the spirits of the tiger also coincides with the cultural connotation of the zodiac tiger.” Zodiac stamps for Year of Tiger spark controversy for lacking vigor, strength – Global Times

Designer: Feng Dazhong  冯大中
Feng’s art name is ‘”Fuhu Caotang Zhuren” (the owner of the crouching tiger humble cottage)’

According to Feng, if the picture you paint is not to convey the life felt by the painter then it is purely a game of ink. What he wants to convey is not the exquisite brushwork but real life and his own feelings. The relationship between man and nature is what Chinese art wants to convey, and the painter sets up the channel for dialogue between one’s mind and nature. Feng’s landscape painting does not pursue the extraordinary form but hides in the environment, and this is the so-called “unity of heaven and man,” the core of Chinese traditional culture.
Chinese artist Feng Dazhong combines elaborate and impressionistic styles, tradition and innovation in his landscape and bird-and-flower paintings – Global Times 

Release date: January 5, 2022


110th Anniversary of the Founding of the Bank of China

110th Anniversary of the Founding of the Bank of China

Pre-stamped postcard
offset

Designer: Shen Jiahong | 沈嘉宏

Release date: January 28, 2022


February

Commemoration of the Opening of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics

China Winter Olympics 2022 stamp 1 China Winter Olympics 2022stamp 2 

China Winter Olympics 2022 souvenir sheet

China Winter Olympics 2022 stamp 1 sheet China Winter Olympics 2022stamp 2 sheet

2 stamps, souvenir sheet of 6 stamps, 2 sheets of 12
China Post will be issuing other Beijing Olympic stamps. They will be posted soon.

Theme:

  • Total Future 
  • Light of Hope

Designer: Wang Huming | 王虎鸣
Wang Huming’s name may be familiar to Jersey Island collectors. He designed the past 2 years Lunar New Year stamps for Jersey as well as the UN’s 2021 Year of the Ox set. He also created the October 27m, 2021 Tiger stamps for China.  Huming is the Art Director of the Postage Stamp Printing Bureau of China Post

Release date: February 4, 2022


80th Anniversary of the Founding of Shandong War Post 

80th Anniversary of the Founding of Shandong War Post

Pre-stamped postcard
offset

Designers: Yu Qiuyan, Shang Ying | 于秋艳、尚盈

Release date: February 7, 2022


50th Anniversary of the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations Between China and Mexico

50th Anniversary of the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations Between China and Mexico50th Anniversary of the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations Between China and Mexico

2 stamps

Official diplomatic relations between China and Mexico was established February 14, 1972

Release date: February 14, 2022


Beijing Winter Olympic Closing

Closing ceremonies 2022 China

commemorative cover

Release date: February 20, 2022


April

Masterpieces of Classical Chinese Literature – Dream of the Red Chamber 红楼梦
4th in series

dream of the red chamber 1 dream of the red chamber 4 dream of the red chamber 3 dream of the red chamber 2 

dream of the red chamber sheet of all dream of the red chamber sheet souvenir 

dream of the red chamber sheet 1 dream of the red chamber sheet 4 dream of the red chamber sheet 3 dream of the red chamber sheet 2 

Masterpieces of Classical Chinese Literature - Dream of the Red Chamber 红楼梦  2 FDCs Masterpieces of Classical Chinese Literature - Dream of the Red Chamber 红楼梦 FDC with souvenir sheet

4 stamps, 1 mini sheet, 4 sheets of 16, 3 FDCs, cancel

This series, featuring parts of the Red Chamber, began in 2014 and runs every 2 years. This is the last in the series that spanned 5 sets.

  • Daiyu Burned Manuscript 黛玉焚稿 
  • Gold And Jade Marriage 金玉联姻
  • Tanchun Yuan Married 探春远嫁
  • Baoyu Dust 宝玉却尘
  • (mini sheet) Cold Pond Crane Shadow  小型张 寒塘鹤影

Release is timed to coincide with World Book Day. The story covers the lives of 5 generations of a Chinese family. You can find decent translated copies of the Red Chamber by Xueqin Cae at many local libraries. If you are in Toronto, the TPL has both print & e-book versions. You can also find copies from bookstores like Indigo Red Chamber in all shops | chapters.indigo.ca

Wikipedia has a pretty decent write up of Red Chamber and is a good starting point Dream of the Red Chamber – Wikipedia. 

Designer: Xiao Yutian 萧玉田
Layout: Xiao Yutian, Xia Jingqiu 萧玉田、夏竞秋

Release date: April 23, 2022


World Natural Heritage Site – Karst in Southern China | 中国南方喀斯特

world natural heritage - karst of southern china 1 world natural heritage - karst of southern china 7 world natural heritage - karst of southern china 6 world natural heritage - karst of southern china 5 world natural heritage - karst of southern china 4 world natural heritage - karst of southern china 3 world natural heritage - karst of southern china 2

world natural heritage - karst of southern china souvenir sheet 1 world natural heritage - karst of southern china souvenir sheet 7 The stamps adopt the painting method of Western painting. On the basis of highlighting the characteristics of the karst landforms in southern China, appropriate artistic exaggeration and selection are carried out, so that the content of the performance conforms to scientific laws without losing artistic beauty. It is magnificent and shows the unique natural beauty of the southern karsts. world natural heritage - karst of southern china souvenir sheet 5 world natural heritage - karst of southern china souvenir sheet 4 world natural heritage - karst of southern china souvenir sheet 3 world natural heritage - karst of southern china souvenir sheet 2

world natural heritage - karst of southern china sheet of all  KARST FDC

7 stamps. sheet of all 7, 7 souvenir block sheets, 5 FDCs, cancel

UNESCO  Global Geopark SHILIN UNESCO GLOBAL GEOPARK (China) and  stone forest world natural heritage (shilin.com.cn) 

  • Stone Forest Karst 石林喀斯特 – formed @ 270 million years ago 
  • Libo Karst 荔波喀斯特 -Also called Maolan Karst Forest found in Libo and is a 20,000 hectares natural reserve
  • Wulong Karst 武隆喀斯特
  • Guilin Karst 桂林喀斯特
  • Shi Bing Karst 施秉喀斯特
  • Golden Buddha Mountain Karst 金佛山喀斯特
  • Huanjiang Karst 环江喀斯特

South China Karst – World Heritage Site – Pictures, Info and Travel Reports 

Karst is a type of topography created by a carbonate bedrock: 
“Karst is a distinctive topography in which the landscape is largely shaped by the dissolving action of water mainly on carbonate bedrock (usually limestone, dolomite, or marble). This geological process, occurring over many thousands of years, results in unusual surface and subsurface features ranging from sinkholes, vertical shafts, disappearing streams, and springs, to complex underground drainage systems and caves.”
What is karst? – Province of British Columbia (gov.bc.ca)
The link above has an excellent, and easily understood explanation of how such unique landscapes are formed. 

Designer: Yang Wenqing |杨文清
From China Post webpage on the style Wengqing used: “The stamps adopt the painting method of Western painting. On the basis of highlighting the characteristics of the karst landforms in southern China, appropriate artistic exaggeration and selection are carried out, so that the content of the performance conforms to scientific laws without losing artistic beauty. It is magnificent and shows the unique natural beauty of the southern karsts.”

Release date: April 28, 2022


May

100th Anniversary of the Founding of the Communist Youth League of China

Chinese Youth League 2 stamps 

中国共产主义青年团成立一百周年

2 stamps

I’d appreciate it if someone could translate the text in the second image. 

Designer: Chang Shana 常沙娜, Zhang Lei 张磊

Release date: May 5, 2022


Ancient Towns of China  
4th in series

ancient town of china 2022 stamp 2 ancient town of china 2022 stamp one 

ancient town of china 2022 stamp 4 ancient town of china 2022 stamp 3

张20220425164939213_size-164k-b0537dd3-1894-388a-b476-d0ca61e89831_bd.png

4 stamps, FDCs, album

  • JIANGXI FULIANG YAOLI TOWN 江西浮梁瑶里镇  
  • ZHEJIANG FUYANG LONGMEN TOWN 浙江富阳龙门镇
  • FUJIAN JINJIANG ANHAI TOWN 福建晋江安海镇
  • SHANDONG WEISHAN NANYANG TOWN 山东微山南阳镇

This is the 4th stamp is a series that started in 2013. It is published every 3 years

Designer: Yang Zhiying 杨志英
 Artists: Xu Zhe 徐喆, Yang Zhiying 杨志英

Release date: May 19, 2022


Gusu Bustling Map | 姑苏繁华图 

Gusu Bustling Map | 姑苏繁华图  Gusu Bustling Map | 姑苏繁华图  Gusu Bustling Map | 姑苏繁华图  Gusu Bustling Map | 姑苏繁华图  Gusu Bustling Map | 姑苏繁华图  Gusu Bustling Map | 姑苏繁华图  

Gusu Bustling Map | 姑苏繁华图  Gusu Bustling Map | 姑苏繁华图  Gusu Bustling Map | 姑苏繁华图 

6 stamps, 3 sheets of 12

The original artwork is held by the Liaoning Provincial Museum. Painted by a court painter Xu Yang, of the Qing Dynasty, and completed in 1759. The images are from a large scroll depicting the area.  

In the early Qing Dynasty, Suzhou was the most economically and culturally developed city in the country. Shen Yu, a Kangxi dynasty man, said: “Gusu is the most important in southeast China; Gusu is the most important in southeast water conservancy; and Gusu is the most prosperous in southeast china.” He also said suzhou, “the treasures produced by the mountains and seas, the goods and shells that foreign countries pass, the four-way exchange, the merchants of thousands of miles, and the shoulders are spoke.”  “Gusu Prosperous Map” – a portrayal of the cultural prosperity of Suzhou in the Qing Dynasty| Qianlong | Prosperity Breeding Chart | Xu Yang_ NetEase Subscription (163.com) (In simplified Chinese, uses Google translate for a good translation)

The design of this set focuses on 6 portions of the scrolling map Lingyan Mountain, Mudu Town, Shihe Ershan, Wannian Bridge, Zhangmen and Tiger Hill

Artist: Xu Yang 徐扬 (1712– @1777) court painter for Qianlong Emperor (1735-1796), 6th emperor of the Qing Dynasty
Designer: Xing Wenwei  邢文伟 

Release date: May 18, 2022


Dongting Lake | 洞庭湖 

Dongting Lake | 洞庭湖  Dongting Lake | 洞庭湖  

Dongting Lake | 洞庭湖  Dongting Lake | 洞庭湖 

Dongting Lake | 洞庭湖  

Dongting Lake | 洞庭湖  Dongting Lake | 洞庭湖  

Donting lake FDCss

4 stamps, mini sheet, 2 sheets of 12, 2 FDCs

  • Junshan Diecui
  • Lingyun Crane
  • Chengtou rice
  • Tongjiang Dahai
  • Zhang Dongting Tianxia small sheet

Dongting is the 2nd largest freshwater lake in China. The stamps will show Junshan Pinecui, Lingyun Crane Shadow, Chengtou Daoyuan, Tongjiang Dahai. The mini sheet will show Dongting World Water. 

Designer: Xu Li 徐里

Release date: May 28, 2022


June

I Grew Up With My Motherland | 我和祖国一起成长

I Grew Up with the Motherland stamp one I Grew Up with the Motherland stamp two I Grew Up with the Motherland stamp three I Grew Up with the Motherland stamp four I Grew Up with the Motherland stamp five 

I Grew Up with the Motherlandh sheet

5 stamps, souvenir sheet of 10

Designer: The collective creation of the Central Academy of Fine Arts  中央美术学院集体创作
Artists: Kang Lei, Wang Zikun,  Feng Xu, Kong Liang, Liu Qing with overall design: Hang Hai
原画作者:康蕾;二图原画作者:王子锟;三图原画作者:冯旭;四图原画作者:孔亮;五图雕塑作者:柳青;设计:杭海

Release date: June 1, 2022


120th Anniversary of the Founding of Southeast University

120th Anniversary of the Founding of Southeast University 

120th Anniversary of the Founding of Southeast University

1 stamp, sheets of 12
offset 

Designer: Yu Qiuyan | 于秋艳
Engraver: Xu Zhe | 徐喆

Release date: June 6, 2022


Hydropower Construction

Hydropower Construction Hydropower Construction 

Hydropower Construction 

2 stamps, 2 sheets of 6
offset

  • Wudongde Hydropower Station | 乌东德水电站  
  • Baihetan Hydropower Station | 白鹤滩水电站

Designer: Guo Zhenshan | 郭振山

Release date: June 28, 2022


Centenary of the Adoption of the First Constitution of the Communist Party of China

100th Anniversary of the Adoption of the Constitution of the Communist Party of China 

100th Anniversary of the Adoption of the Constitution of the Communist Party of China

1 stamp, sheet of 12

Designer: Zhang Fan | 张帆

Release date:  July 23, 2022


August

Chinese Seal Engraving

Sengoku Waiji furnace hammer Qin Yiyang Jinyin Han Shuoning Wang Empress Xi Tang Zhongshu Provincial Seal 

Sengoku Waiji furnace hammer sheet Qin Yiyang Jinyin sheet Han Shuoning Wang Empress Xi sheetTang Zhongshu Provincial Seal sheet 

Chinese Seal Engraving sheet of stamps

4 stamps, sheets of 12
offset embossed

These four seals can be found in the  Palace Museum, Shanghai Museum, Chongqing China Three Gorges Museum

  • Sengoku Waiji furnace hammer
  • Qin Yiyang Jinyin
  • Han Shuoning Wang Empress Xi
  • Tang Zhongshu Provincial Seal

Chinese seal engraving is developed from the ancient Chinese seal making technology that combines calligraphy (mainly seal writing) and engraving (including chiseling and casting), and has a history of more than 3,000 years…In 2009, the Chinese seal inscription was inscribed on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO. Special Stamp of “Seal Engraving of China” – China Post Group Co., Ltd 

Art of Chinese seal engraving – intangible heritage – Culture Sector – UNESCO

Designer: Rong Tie | 容铁 (president of the Seal Collection and Research Committee of the China Collectors Association, director of the Chinese Calligraphers Association, director of the China Artists Association, and director of the Xiling Printing Society)

Release date: August 5, 2022


Lide Cultivating People
regular issue

Cultivating People 

Cultivating People

1 stamp, sheet of 12

Designer: Chen Nan

Release date: August 7, 2022


Qin Opera | 秦腔 

China 2022 Qin Opera stamp one ina 2022 Qin Opera stamp two China 2022 Qin Opera stamp three

China 2022 Qin Opera sheet one China 2022 Qin Opera sheet two China 2022 Qin Opera sheet three

3 stamps, 3 sheets of 9

  • 火焰驹 Flaming Foal
  • 三滴血 Three Drops of Blood
  • 游西湖 Tour West Lake 

Classified as an Intangible Cultural Heritage.

Qin Opera – China – Chinadaily.com.cn has a very brief article on Qin. In English.

Three operas will be featured Flame Foal, Three Drops of Blood and West Lake Tour | 《火焰驹》《三滴血》《游西湖》

If you’re unfamiliar with Chinese opera, and more specifically Qin Opera, try the video below. The opera has to be seen with the incredible costumes to be fully appreciated.  The video below is The Flame Foal. If you’d like to explore different forms of Chinese opera, YouTube has a large selection, including shorter clips.  

 

Designers: Lu Jieyuan, Guo Xianlu | 录洁囡、郭线庐
Edge decorations on sheets: Liu Guancong | 刘冠丛

Release date: August 13, 2022


Chinese Space Station

4 stamps

Release date: August  2022


September

Animation – Black Cat Sheriff | 黑猫警长

Animation - Black Cat Sheriff stamp oneAnimation - Black Cat Sheriff stamp threeAnimation - Black Cat Sheriff stamp twoAnimation - Black Cat Sheriff stamp fourAnimation - Black Cat Sheriff stamp five

Animation - Black Cat Sheriff sheet of stamps

5 stamps, sheet of 10
uses gold and silver special metal ink

Black Cat Sheriff, from Shanghai Fine Arts Film Studio, was a popular and influential children’s cartoon from the 80s and 90s. If you poke around the internet, you can find some of the videos online. There were 5 episodes produced in 1984. The Black Cat Sheriff solved a number of cases and battled evil hamsters (hey, we all knew there was something suspect about those furry little rodents!), solved the mysterious case of the mantis, protected animals in the forest and basically helped everyone live peaceful lives. 

The tale was based on a character created by Zhu Zhixiang (诸志祥).

  • Uniform Bandit
  • Catch the Evil Eagle
  • Defend Home
  • Side by side
  • won a big victory

Designer: Shang Ying 尚盈
Courtesy Shanghai Fine Arts Film Studio Co., Ltd 上海美术电影制片厂有限公司

Release date: September 3, 2022


Tiger (cultural relic) 虎
3rd in cultural relics series

Tiger (cultural relic) 虎 Tiger (cultural relic) 虎Tiger (cultural relic) 虎Tiger (cultural relic) 虎Tiger (cultural relic) 虎Tiger (cultural relic) 虎  

Tiger (cultural relic) 虎 Tiger (cultural relic) 虎 Tiger (cultural relic) 虎 Tiger (cultural relic) 虎 Tiger (cultural relic) 虎 Tiger (cultural relic) 虎

6 stamps, 6 sheets of 12
Different printing processes were used for each stamp:

The first picture is overprinted with rubber carving, and the pattern of the double-tailed bronze tiger cultural relics of Fu Bird is clear and the image is lifelike; The second picture adds jade powder on the basis of offset printing and embossing to restore the natural luster and warm effect of the green jade tiger shape. The third picture is based on multi-color offset printing with silk screen matte sand and relief embossing process, which makes the image of the white tiger more vivid; The fourth picture uses cold hot stamping technology and convex process to replicate the ancient gold wrong process, and the image of the copper tiger is majestic and more three-dimensional; The fifth picture uses varnish and relief embossing to create a serene and cute image of the tiger; The sixth figure uses a tactile oil process to express the texture of the shadow flying tiger, and the fluorescent ink shines under the action of purple light.  Chen2022-09-14SourceChina Post News

Shang Fu Bird Double-tailed Bronze Tiger

  • Spring and Autumn Jade Tiger Shaped Pei  
  • Han White Tiger Wadang
  • Han False Gold Inscription Copper Tiger Festival    
  • Gold Cizhou kiln white glazed brown flower Crouching Tiger pillow
  • Qing Shadow Flying Tiger 

The tigers are held in the following museums (in order): 

  • Jiangxi Provincial Museum
  • Henan Museum
  • National Museum of China
  • Museum of the King of Nanyue,
  • Zhoukou Museum
  • National Art Museum of China

This site provides an interesting look at the importance of tigers in Chinese culture What Does A Tiger Symbolize In Chinese Culture? | Son Of China

Tigers are majestic creatures that are highly revered in China. It is loved not just for its beauty but for its ferocity as well. It is among the most important creatures in China, along with dragons and phoenixes. The Chinese have shared a close relationship with tigers since Ancient China. (See link above)

Details of each image, courtesy China Post:

“Shang Fu Bird Double-tailed Bronze Tiger”, 53.5 cm long, 25.5 cm high, weighs 6.2 kg. It is the largest pre-Qin bronze tiger seen in China so far, and it is known as the “Tiger King”. It is in the Jiangxi provincial museum.

“Spring and Autumn Jade Tiger Shaped Pendant”, 14.6 cm long and 4.4 cm wide, jade yellowish, crystal fine, tiger-shaped low head bow back, tail tip up rolled up. The ornamentation is simple, the shape is vivid, and the carving is exquisite. It is in the Henan Museum.

“Han White Tiger Wadang”, diameter 18.7 cm, side wheel width 2.1 cm, thickness 2 cm. Round, clay pottery. A white tiger decorated in relief around the central breast pillar, its whole body is striped, its mouth is raised with claws, the tiger’s tail is curved, strong and powerful, and its appearance is mighty. It is in the collection of the National Museum of China.

“Han Que Jin Inscription Bronze Tiger Festival”, length 19 cm, height 11.6 cm, thickness 1.2 cm. On the front of the body there is a false gold inscription “King’s Life = (Fate) Chakra”. It is the only piece of wrong gold inscription copper tiger festival found in China so far. It is hidden in the Museum of the King of Nanyue.

“Golden Cizhou kiln white glazed brown flower Crouching Tiger Pillow”, length 34 cm, width 14 cm, height 10 cm. The fierce tiger is a pillow, which embodies the psychological sustenance of the ancients to ward off evil spirits and pray for auspiciousness. It is in the collection of Zhoukou City Museum.

“Qing Shadow Flying Tiger”, Shaanxi Qishan Shadow Flying Tiger, length 42 cm, height 28 cm. The exaggerated tiger steps on the auspicious clouds, surrounded by flames, the eyes are round, the image is mighty, full of spirit, full of romantic color. In the collection of the National Art Museum of China.

Each stamp has a small security feature, but the Qing Shadow Flying Tiger has a beautiful hidden feature:

China tiger cultural heritage 2022 security features

Previous stamps in the series Dragon and Phoenix

Designer: Wang Huming | 王虎鸣

Release date: September 5, 2022


Modern Chinese Scientists  
9th in series which started in 1988

Modern Chinese Scientists   series 9 Modern Chinese Scientists   series 9 

Modern Chinese Scientists   series 9 Modern Chinese Scientists   series 9 

Modern Chinese Scientists   series 9 Modern Chinese Scientists   series 9 

Modern Chinese Scientists   series 9 Modern Chinese Scientists   series 9

4 stamps, 4 sheets of 16
offset engraving overprinting

This series began in 1988. 4 stamps will be issued featuring:

  • Cheng Kaijia (physicist)
  • Wu Wenjun (mathematician)
  • Liu Dongsheng (geologist)
  • Yuan Longping (agronomist)

邮票内容表现程开甲(物理学家)、吴文俊(数学家)、刘东生(地质学家)、袁隆平(农学家)

Designer: Li Chen  李晨 
Li Chen has designed over 60 stamps for China Post. He is a graphic artist known for his serial comics.  He spoke about the creative process he used to bring this series to life in a Sept. 18, 2022, interview. The article is in Chinese but translates well. 

 “I drew three sets of tickets with a total of 12 scientists, and the process of drawing them was like archaeology and detective cases, and I examined each scientist’s experience, background, social circle, and even the clothes they wore and the expressions on their faces, so as to [understand] the characters thoroughly.” After doing these homework, the characters are shaped into a grand theme. ” …

 Before writing, the stamp artwork editor and the scientists’ families provided Li Chen with a batch of photos of scientists for reference. Li Chen then selects suitable photos from the perspective of painting creation and uses sketching techniques to copy the painting. “To understand the mental journey of the characters, to be familiar with the demeanor and temperament of the characters, it is easy to draw. I have gone to the two bomb cities of Jiayuguan and Mianyang, tracing the footprints and mental journey of Yu Min and Cheng Kaijia. When I use a brush to talk to scientists and restore their smiles to paper, that’s when I paint. “Li Chen talks about the creation process of the ninth group of commemorative stamps of “Modern Chinese Scientists”_characters_background_picture (sohu.com)

Release date: September 7, 2022


120th Anniversary of the Founding of Beijing Normal University

china 2022 normal university 

China 2022 normal university sheet

1 stamp, sheet of 12

Beijing Normal University (bnu.edu.cn)

Designer: Yu Tong 于童

Release date: September 8, 2022


Years of abundance
regular issue

Years of abundance
regular issue 

Years of abundance
regular issue

1 stamp, sheet of 12

Designer: Guo Zhiyi

Release date: September 23, 2022


October

China Famous Pavilion
2nd in series

China Famous Pavilion 2nd in series China Famous Pavilion 2nd in seriesChina Famous Pavilion 2nd in seriesChina Famous Pavilion 2nd in series China Famous Pavilion 2nd in seriesChina Famous Pavilion 2nd in series

4 stamps, 2 sheets of 12 (2 different stamps on each sheet)

  • Zhichunting 知春亭
  • Water flow cloud in the pavilion 水流云在亭
  • Wanchun Pavilion 万春亭
  • Shuanghuan Pavilion 双环亭

Designer: 焦洋  Jiao Yang associate professor of the School of Chinese Painting at the Central Academy of Fine Arts
Border artist :焦洋 Xia Jingqiu
Border designer:夏竞秋 Wang Jing

Release date: October 3, 2022


20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China

20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China 221027758 

20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China 

 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China

20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China

2 stamps, 2 mini sheets, 2 sheets of 16

  • Strive for a new journey
  • New Era of Meritorious Service
  • Souvenir sheet shows the convening of the 20th Congress

Designer: Central Academy of Fine Arts Collective Creation (Gao Hong, Fan Di’an, Lv Pinjing, Qiang Yong, Hao Ninghui, Liu Qing, Jia Luyao, Luo Yunze, Lv You)
设计者:中央美术学院集体创作(执笔:高洪、范迪安、吕品晶、强勇、郝凝辉、柳青、贾璐遥、罗允泽、吕游)

Release date: October 16, 2022


Zhang Zhongjing | 张仲景

Zhang Zhongjing | 张仲景 Zhang Zhongjing | 张仲景

Zhang Zhongjing | 张仲景 Zhang Zhongjing | 张仲景

Zhang Zhongjing | 张仲景 Zhang Zhongjing | 张仲景

2 stamps, 1 stamp on mini sheet, souvenir sheet (both stamps) 2 sheets of 16
offset

This is part of a series that began in 2011 featuring ancient sages.

Zhang Zhongjing (chinaculture.org)

Designer: 刘金贵 Liu Jingui

Release date: October 27, 2022


November

Pigeons

rock pigeon
spot-tailed forest pigeon
snow pigeon
Pinned pigeon rock pigeon
spot-tailed forest pigeon
snow pigeon
Pinned pigeon

rock pigeon
spot-tailed forest pigeon
snow pigeon
Pinned pigeon rock pigeon
spot-tailed forest pigeon
snow pigeon
Pinned pigeon 

rock pigeon
spot-tailed forest pigeon
snow pigeon
Pinned pigeon rock pigeon
spot-tailed forest pigeon
snow pigeon
Pinned pigeon

4 stamps, 2 sheets of 12

  • rock pigeon
  • spot-tailed forest pigeon
  • snow pigeon
  • Pinned pigeon

China Post’s write up was quite interesting:

The pigeon with a beautiful image and a docile temperament is the darling of Eastern and Western cultures. Western culture sees pigeons as symbols of peace, love and equality, while Chinese culture sees pigeons as symbols of faith and family harmony. Nowadays, in major cities, it has become fashionable to raise square pigeons, and the image of pigeons is becoming more and more loved and welcomed by people.

There are 10 species of wild pigeons in China, and this stamp shows four of them, namely rock pigeons, spot-tailed forest pigeons, snow pigeons and spotted forest pigeons. The artwork depicts the habitat and morphology of the pigeons in detail in the form of animal science paintings, realistically presents the living conditions of the four pigeons in the wild, and fully shows the natural and harmonious beauty of the birds depicted. “Pigeon” Special Stamp – China Post Group Limited

Designer: Zeng Xiaolian 曾孝濂

Release date: November 5, 2022


National parks

Sanjiangyuan National Park
Giant Panda National Park
Northeast Tiger and Leopard National Park
Hainan Tropical Rainforest National Park
Wuyishan National Park Sanjiangyuan National Park
Giant Panda National Park
Northeast Tiger and Leopard National Park
Hainan Tropical Rainforest National Park
Wuyishan National Park Sanjiangyuan National Park
Giant Panda National Park
Northeast Tiger and Leopard National Park
Hainan Tropical Rainforest National Park
Wuyishan National Park Sanjiangyuan National Park
Giant Panda National Park
Northeast Tiger and Leopard National Park
Hainan Tropical Rainforest National Park
Wuyishan National Park Sanjiangyuan National Park
Giant Panda National Park
Northeast Tiger and Leopard National Park
Hainan Tropical Rainforest National Park
Wuyishan National Park 

Sanjiangyuan National Park
Giant Panda National Park
Northeast Tiger and Leopard National Park
Hainan Tropical Rainforest National Park
Wuyishan National Park Sanjiangyuan National Park
Giant Panda National Park
Northeast Tiger and Leopard National Park
Hainan Tropical Rainforest National Park
Wuyishan National Park Sanjiangyuan National Park
Giant Panda National Park
Northeast Tiger and Leopard National Park
Hainan Tropical Rainforest National Park
Wuyishan National Park Sanjiangyuan National Park
Giant Panda National Park
Northeast Tiger and Leopard National Park
Hainan Tropical Rainforest National Park
Wuyishan National Park Sanjiangyuan National Park
Giant Panda National Park
Northeast Tiger and Leopard National Park
Hainan Tropical Rainforest National Park
Wuyishan National Park

5 stamps, 5 sheets of 12

This is the first in a new series. 5 parks will be featured:

  • Sanjiangyuan National Park
  • Giant Panda National Park
  • Northeast Tiger and Leopard National Park
  • Hainan Tropical Rainforest National Park
  • Wuyishan National Park

Designers: Ma Lihang, Liu Bo and Yin Xiaofei

Release date: November 5, 2022


Five Blessings & Chinese New Year 

Five Blessings & Chinese New Year Five Blessings & Chinese New Year 
Five Blessings & Chinese New Year Five Blessings & Chinese New Year 

Five Blessings & Chinese New YearFive Blessings & Chinese New Year

2 stamps, 2 sheets of 20, sheet of 4, souvenir sheet

Original artwork: Wu Guanying 吴冠英 
Wu is currently a professor at the Academy of Art and Design of Tsinghua University. He designed the mascot for the 2008 Beijing Paralympic Games. He also designed the New Year’s Greetings stamps for 2015, 2016 and 2017 as well as China’s 2011 Year of the Rabbit stamp, his first stamp design. In an interview in 2017, Wu described the 2011 design process:

 “The designers who received the invitation had to compare drafts, and the postal group organized an expert competition, selected two, and then selected the final works after nearly half a year of revision.” When designing the rabbit ticket, Wu Guanying drew more than 200 rabbits in half a year.” Wu Guanying: From “Fuwa” to Zodiac Stamps More than 30 years of concentrating on artistic creation–Calligraphy and Painting–People’s Network (In Chinese and translates well).

Designer: Shi Yuan 史渊

Release date: November 15, 2022


December

Chinese Space Station

China Space Station China Space Station 

China Space Station China Space Station 

 China Space Station

China Space Station China Space Station 

China Space Station China Space Station

4 stamps, 4 sheets of 12, souvenir sheet
offset

  • Tiandi round trip
  • Space Science
  • out-of-cabin activity
  • Space Home

Designers: Wang Huming, Dong Qi, Xia Jingqiu | 王虎鸣、董琪、夏竞秋
Illustrator: Yu Tong | 于

Release date: December 25, 2022


See all of last year’s stamps from China here 中国邮政 Chinese 2021 stamps

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