The launch ceremony for special stamp set 'Mogao Grottoes II' is held on Aug 3. [Photo provided to silkroadexpo.gogansu.com]

A set of special stamps that feature the stunning artwork of the Mogao Grottoes was officially released in Gansu province on Aug 3.

The set, which was produced in collaboration with Dunhuang Academy, Gansu Provincial Postal Administration and the China Post Group's Gansu Branch, was unveiled in the cities of Lanzhou and Dunhuang.

The Mogao Grottoes, a UNESCO World Heritage site in Dunhuang boast a rich collection of Buddhist artwork and the stamps will play a role in further popularizing the site on Aug 3.

The "Mogao Grottoes (II)" special stamps issued on Aug 3 [Photo provided to silkroadexpo.gogansu.com]

The "Mogao Grottoes (II)" special stamps issued on Aug 3 [Photo provided to silkroadexpo.gogansu.com]

The newly issued "Mogao Grottoes II" special stamps include 4 individual stamps and 1 miniature sheet, with a total set value of 10.80 yuan ($1.51).

They depict Maitreya of the Northern Liang dynasty, Guarding Bodhisattva of the Tang Dynasty (618-907), Heavenly King of the Tang Dynasty, and Attendant Bodhisattva of the Tang Dynasty, while the miniature sheet features a group of characters centered on the Sakyamuni Buddha of the Sui Dynasty (581-618).

The set maintains a cohesive visual style and color palette consistent with the "Mogao Grottoes" stamps, which were released in September 2020.

To date, China Post has issued 11 sets of stamps themed around Dunhuang culture, totaling 45 individual stamps and 5 miniature sheets, underscoring the importance of the ancient city in China's millennia-old cultural landscape.