China Post released a special set of commemorative stamps and a souvenir sheet honoring the 100th anniversary of Jiang Zemin’s birth on August 17, 2026. The issue features scenes of Jiang Zemin, drawing long queues of collectors to post offices across Shanghai and prompting online sales to sell out within hours.
Commemorating the centenary of Jiang Zemin’s birth, China Post issued a set of two commemorative stamps alongside one souvenir sheet. The first stamp highlights Jiang in Shanghai, while the second depicts him at the 15th National Congress of the Communist Party of China. The accompanying souvenir sheet captures Jiang waving to crowds from the Tiananmen Gate tower.
Design, Print Runs, and Face Values for the Centenary Issue
Designed by Xing Wenwei and Yin Xiaofei, the collectibles were printed by Beijing Stamp Printing Co. Ltd. using photogravure.
The items went on sale starting August 17 across designated postal outlets, online philatelic halls, and the China Post mobile client. Postal authorities have established a six-month sales window for the collection.
Early Morning Queues and Strong Collector Demand in Shanghai
Enthusiasts lined up outside post offices well before opening time. In Shanghai, crowds gathered outside the historic Shanghai Post Building by 8:00 a.m. on the release day, with some netizens reporting waits beginning as early as 4:00 a.m. Online purchasing channels sold out before noon on the first day of release.
Shanghai Post officials deployed extra staff and coordinated branch services to maintain order among the queues stretching outside the building. For many local residents, the connection to the city runs deep. Collectors noted that the Shanghai Post Museum bears a name inscribed by Jiang, making purchases at the landmark building carry unique sentimental value for local philatelists.
Broader Commemorative Releases Accompanying the Stamp Launch
The stamp issuance coincides with other major publications marking the centenary. Distributed nationwide starting August 17, the volume compiles Jiang's significant writings on foreign affairs from July 1989 to July 2003, featuring several previously unreleased texts.
