1995-12, Taihu Lake《太湖》

Stamp Title: Taihu Lake
Scott No: 2581, 2582, 2583, 2584, 2585, 2586
Serial number: 1995-12
Values in set: 5
(5-1), Scene of Dongting Lake, 20 fen, 50*30mm
(5-2), Billows of Yuanzhu, 20 fen, 50*30mm
(5-3), Green View of Li Lake, 50 fen, 50*30mm
(5-4), Scene of Jichang in Autumn, 50 fen, 50*30mm
(5-5), Snow in Plum Garden, 230 fen, 50*30mm
Souvenir sheet: 1
(1-1), Carry within Itself the Wu and Yue Areas, 500 fen, 122*82 mm/ 90*60 mm
Date of issue: July 20, 1995
Designers: Fan Yang
Size of stamp: 50*30mm
Size of S/S: 122*82 mm
Size of S/S stamp: 90*60 mm
Perforation: 12
Sheet composition: 32
Printing process: gravure

Taihu Lake, known as Zhenze in ancient times, extends across Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces . As the third largest fresh water lake in China formed from a gulf dammed with the silt from the lower reaches of the Yangtze and Qiantang rivers, Taihu Lake sits in the center of the river network in areas south of the lower reaches of the Yangtze, facilitating irrigation and shipping . The areas around the lake abound with rice, wheat, mulberry and tea, as well as other local specialties such as whitebait, hence the name of “a land of plenty”. The beautiful scenery of Taihu Lake is well known both at home and abroad. Scattered in the lake are dozens of isles which, along with the surrounding mountain peaks and peninsulas, form the scenery of 72 peaks. Famous scenic spots around the lake include hills and waters of Wuxi, gardens of Suzhou, cave paradise of Yixing and the historical sites of the Kingdom of Wu (222-280).

The Dongting West Mountain in Wuxian County, Jiangsu Province, is the largest island mountain in Taihu Lake, with the beautiful main peak more than 300 meters above sea level. Opposite it is the Dongting East Mountain where flowers bloom all the year round and is known as a “mountain of flowers and fruits”.

Yuantouzhu (like a turtle’s head into the lake) in the like-side Wuxi City of Jiangsu Province is one of the best places to enjoy the beauty of Taihu Lake. The gardens there are built against the hills and by the water, constituting a peculiar style. “Yuan Zhu Chun Tao” (spring waves around Yuantouzhu) is one of those landscapes. In the natural stone wall of Yuantouzhu beside the lake, there is a stone inscription read as “Breeding rich lands”, which is believe as the key comment of Taihu Lake.

Lihu Lake is the inner lake of Taihu Lake. According to legend, it is named after Fan Li, a senior official of Yue, a state in the later Spring and Autumn Period (770-476 B.C.), who resigned after success and carried Xi Shi, a famed beauty at that time, to go boating on Taihu Lake. Liyuan Garden by the side of the lake is one of the best known gardens in Jiangnan (the areas south of the lower reaches of the Yangtze River).

Jichang garden is a classic one with unique style in the Taihu Lake scenic spots. A key cultural relic under state protection, it is featured with water corridors in the east and rockeries and plants in the west. Xiequ Garden (Garden of Harmonious Interest) in the Summer Palace of Beijing is built after the architectural style of it.

Plum Garden, also in Wuxi City, is known for the thousands of plum that, when in full bloom in early spring, gladdens the heart and refreshes the mind of visitors. The top of Nianqu Tower gives visitors a view of the beautiful scenery of Taihu Lake in the distance.

1995年特种邮票《太湖》
国家邮政局1995年7月20日发行《太湖》特种邮票1套5枚，小型张1枚。
（5-1）T 洞庭山色 20 分 5248.1万枚
（5-2）T 鼋头春涛 20 分 5105.7万枚
（5-3）T 蠡湖烟绿 50 分 3139.3万枚
（5-4）T 寄畅清秋 50 分 3264.1万枚
（5-5）T 梅园香雪 230 分 2671.7万枚
小型张 包孕吴越 500 分 2172.4万枚
志号：1995-12T
版别：影写
整版枚数：32枚
全套面值：3.70元
齿孔度数：12度
邮票规格：50×30毫米
小型张邮票规格：90×60毫米
小型张外形规格：122×82毫米
设计者：范扬
印制机构：北京邮票厂

太湖位于江苏省南部，长江三角洲中部;全部水域在江苏省境内，湖水南部与浙江省相连。太湖分别由苏州、常州、无锡三市管辖，是我国东部近海区域最大的湖泊，面积为2420平方公里烟波浩淼的的淡水湖，也是我国的第三大淡水湖。太湖以优美的湖光山色和灿烂的人文景观，闻名中外，是我国著名的风景名胜区，每年皆吸引着大量中外游人来此观光游览。

太湖，古称“震泽”，又名“笠泽”，位于富饶的沪、宁、杭三角地中心，是长江和钱塘江下游泥沙淤塞了古海湾而成的湖泊。周围则群星捧月一般分布着淀泖湖群、阳澄湖群、洮滆湖群等。纵横交织的江、河、溪、渎，把太湖与周围的大小湖荡串连起来，形成了极富特色的江南水乡。太湖水产丰富，盛产鱼虾，素有“太湖八百里，鱼虾捉不尽”的说法。这里土地肥沃，水道纵横，已有五千余年农耕历史，并以“鱼米之乡”、“丝绸之府”著称。

太湖湖周约五百余公里，有大小岛屿48个。湖畔峰峦屏列，树木苍翠，湖中岛屿星散，波光粼粼，帆影点点。奇峰七十，山不高而清秀。曲径五百，水不深而辽阔。山外环山，湖中抱湖，烟波浩淼，云白风清。多姿多彩的自然景观与神秘的古泽传奇,悠久的吴越史迹交相辉映，赋予了太湖美景丰富的人文内涵和无尽的艺术魅力。太湖有13个景区和2个独立景点：鼋头渚琉璃水碧，洞庭山玲珑石奇，长春桥流花，寄畅园堆锦，蠡湖烟缘，梅园香雪，更兼刺天画阁，接云水榭，叠翠幽坞，藏珍古洞等等。真可谓四面有山皆入画，八方临水总通灵。太湖风光，美不胜收。

1995年7月20日，为了展现中华山河的壮美风貌，邮电部发行了《太湖》特种邮票，全套5枚。