2025-15, Ancient and Famous Trees《古树名木》

Special Stamps: Ancient and Famous Trees (2025‑15)

China Post issued a set of four special stamps Ancient and Famous Trees on August 15, 2025.

(4‑1) T Ginkgo at Dinglin Temple, Shandong 0.80 CNY
(4‑2) T Jiange Cypress at Cuiyun Corridor, Sichuan 0.80 CNY
(4‑3) T Chinese Scholar Tree at Jinci Temple, Shanxi 1.20 CNY
(4‑4) T Carpinus putoensis on Putuo Mountain, Zhejiang 1.20 CNY

Serial No.: 2025‑15
Stamp size: 33 × 44 mm | Perforation:13.5 degrees
Stamps per full sheet:10 units
Full‑sheet size:129 × 211 mm
Printing process: Combined offset and engraving
Security features: Security paper, security ink, special‑shaped perforations, fluorescent coding
Designers: Yang Zhiying, Xu Zhe
Engravers: Yang Zhiying, Xu Zhe
Margin designer of the sheet: Xia Jingqiu
Responsible editor: Wang Jing
Printer: Beijing Stamp Factory Co., Ltd.
Planned print run: 4.70 million sets
Total face‑value of complete set: CNY 4.00

Ancient and famous trees carry the long history and splendid culture of Chinese civilization, hold the nostalgia of people, and preserve precious biological genes. Ancient trees are living fossils, witnesses of historical changes and carriers of civilizational memory. They are known as “green national treasures” and “living cultural relics”. This stamp set features four precious ancient trees of distinct species.

(4‑1) Ginkgo at Dinglin Temple, Shandong: Located at Dinglin Temple on Fulai Mountain in Ju County, Rizhao, Shandong Province. It is around 4,000 years old and 26.7 meters high, widely called a “living fossil” of the plant kingdom. Its best viewing season is from late October to mid‑November. UNESCO broadcast its footage worldwide in 1982, making it famous at home and abroad. It was selected into the national list of “100 Most Beautiful Ancient Trees” in 2023.

(4‑2) Jiange Cypress at Cuiyun Corridor, Sichuan: Situated in the Cuiyun Corridor scenic zone on the ancient Shudao Golden Bull Road in Guangyuan, Sichuan Province. It is roughly 2,300 years old and 27 meters tall. Its unique trait: “looks like pine from afar, yet it is cypress up close”. Only one wild specimen of this cypress is known worldwide. It is listed among China’s Most Beautiful Ancient Trees and one of Sichuan’s Top Ten Tree Kings. The ancient cypress group of Cuiyun Corridor on Sichuan’s Shu Road was included in the national list of “100 Most Beautiful Ancient Tree Groves”.

(4‑3) Chinese Scholar Tree at Jinci Temple, Shanxi: Found in Jinci Museum, Taiyuan, Shanxi Province. Planted in the Sui Dynasty, it is about 1,400 years old and 18 meters high. This time‑honoured tree remains lush and leafy to this day. It is the oldest, grandest, thickest and most vigorous scholar tree inside Jinci, one of the core natural landmarks of the site.

(4‑4) Carpinus putoensis on Putuo Mountain, Zhejiang: Grows at Huiji Temple, Putuo Mountain Scenic Area, Zhoushan, Zhejiang Province. It is about 250 years old and 15 meters high. It is an endemic Chinese species. Only one wild Carpinus putoensis survives on Earth. Classified as China’s national Class I protected wild plant and Critically Endangered by IUCN, it is nicknamed “the only child of the Earth”. Carpinus putoensis was among four unique Chinese tree species selected for space breeding experiments aboard Tiangong‑1 in 2011.

This stamp set adopts combined offset and engraving printing. The artwork is delicate with rich layers, presenting vigorous, elegant tree forms in soft, refined colours. Main subjects are rendered with engraving lines. Contours, branches and leaves are shaped by three‑dimensional embossed engraving lines. Varied line weights build depth and volume. Well‑arranged engraved lines paired with balanced offset colours complement each other, highlighting the primitive, solemn charm and vitality of these ancient famous trees.