Special Stamps: Lily

In March 2003, the State Postal Bureau issued a set of four stamps featuring the lily.

A famous and popular decorative flower, the lily signifies purity, elegance, life-long happiness and perfect harmony.

There are a total 115 species of lily, of the genus Lilium, which grow mainly in the Northern Hemisphere in countries such as China, Japan, North America and Europe. It is most abundant in southwest and central China. Lilies bloom in white, yellow, orange, and pink. Some species also have a delicate fragrance.

The lily can be cultivated in a pot, courtyard or flower terrace, and is also available in florists as a cut flower. This decorative bloom is edible and can be used as medicine.

China has a long history of lily cultivation. It was in the 18th century that the lily was first introduced to Europe, and then to the USA, and it has sustained its popularity on these two continents ever since.

In order to render a true and vivid image of this bloom, the designer went to Zhongdian, Lijiang, and Dali in Yunnan Province to carry out research on its environment. Each of the stamps in this set pictures a different species of lily.