Scott No: -
Serial number: 2018-6
Values in set: 4
Date of issue: March 25, 2018
Denomination: 480 fen
Designer: Dong Wenzhen
Size of stamps: 40 * 30 mm
Perforation: 13
Sheet composition:
16 for Sheet I;
8 for Sheet II (2 Sets)
Sheet Size:
200 * 150 mm for sheet I;
130 * 190 mm for Sheet II
Printing process: Offset + Engraving
Printing House: Henan Provincal Postage Stamp Printing Works

Crabapple flowers are traditional famous flowers in China, boasting an extensive distribution and a rich variety of species across the country. Adored by people for their bright and delicate hues as well as graceful postures, they are widely used for landscaping in both classical gardens and public green spaces, bringing people visual and spiritual enjoyment. These flowers have also been a favored subject for literati of all dynasties to chant in their works, earning prestigious titles such as "Fairy among Flowers", "Noble Consort of Flowers" and "National Beauty".

Lu You, a poet of the Southern Song Dynasty, wrote a poem describing crabapples as "Gorgeous yet free from vulgarity, its grace rivals imperial elegance", praising their stunning beauty and refined charm. In another of his poems, he depicted them vividly with the lines, "Scarlet blooms and parrot-green leaves display divine craftsmanship; layers of calyxes and sepals dazzle under the morning sun", highlighting their lush blossoms and vibrant foliage. In imperial gardens, crabapple flowers are often planted alongside yulan magnolias, peonies and sweet osmanthus, embodying the auspicious meaning of "prosperity and nobility".

The year 2018 marked the 120th anniversary of the birth of Premier Zhou Enlai. To cherish the memory of Premier Zhou's noble spirit of devoting himself wholeheartedly to the Party and the people, as well as his boundless compassion, China Post Group Corporation chose crabapple flowers—his favorite flowers during his lifetime—as the theme of a special stamp. The Crabapple Flowers special stamps were issued on March 25, 2018, in commemoration of the glorious life of Premier Zhou Enlai.

This set of stamps features four types of crabapple flowers, namely Malus prunifolia, Malus × micromalus, Malus honanensis and Malus toringo. On the whole, it reflects the simple and unadorned style of crabapple flowers, which truly mirrors Premier Zhou Enlai's spiritual qualities of modesty and integrity. Here, crabapple flowers are endowed with a brand-new symbolic meaning, which serves as a key to exploring and presenting the spiritual essence of the people's premier. Consequently, "simplicity" has become the overarching keynote in the artistic and technical design of this stamp set.

The stamps adopt the traditional Chinese meticulous painting technique. Centering on partial branches of crabapple trees, they depict exquisite and charming scenes with meticulous precision. The images showcase both fully blooming flowers and tight flower buds, with petals, filaments and leaves portrayed in a lifelike manner. The entire background is a delicate light beige color, which accentuates the elegant and pure temperament of the crabapple flowers. In terms of layout, the crabapple branches on the four stamps extend from the left, right and bottom sides respectively, adding a sense of dynamism while keeping the patterns lively.

To achieve an intricate visual effect for the Crabapple Flowers stamps, carved line drawing was employed for the flowers, leaves and tree trunks in the main scenes. The words "China Post", "CHINA" and the Latin names in the stamp designs were printed using the intaglio printing method. The effective combination of offset printing and intaglio printing not only presents the color tones and layers of the crabapple patterns perfectly but also renders the key elements such as flower outlines and tree trunks with fine and clear lines, resulting in a strong texture and profound connotations.

The border pattern of Format Ⅱ features the Xihuating in Zhongnanhai—the former residence of Premier Zhou. The entire stamp sheet is adorned with clusters of crabapple flowers, as if Xihuating is immersed in a world of crabapples. The simplicity of the crabapple flowers reminds people of every detail of Premier Zhou Enlai's work in Xihuating. On the stamp, crabapple flowers in Xihuating bloom in full glory—single blooms, clusters and patches of red and white flowers. Arranged vertically in an irregular yet harmonious way, the flowers remain as charming and appealing as ever.