Anniversary of the founding of Suzhou - 2,500th

 

This postcard is part of a special collection issued in 1986 by the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications of China. It carries historical and artistic significance beyond its face value as simple stationery. 

🏛️ Historical Significance

• The Event: The postcard commemorates the 2,500th Anniversary of the founding of Suzhou (514 BC – 1986 AD). Suzhou was established by General Wu Zixu as the capital of the State of Wu during the Spring and Autumn Period.
• The Series (JP9): It is designated as JP9(1-1) in the "Memorial Postcard" (Ji nian You zheng Ming xin pian) series.
  • JP stands for "Ji" (Commemorative) and "P" (Postcard).
  • (1-1) indicates it was a single-card set.
• Issue Date: It was officially released on November 9, 1986. 

🎨 Visual Details & Iconography

• Panmen Gate: The main artwork features the Panmen Gate (Pan Gate), Suzhou's most iconic landmark.
  • The "Land and Water Gate": The image clearly shows the dual-gate system—a land entrance for carts and soldiers, and a water entrance for boats. It is the only well-preserved dual-purpose gate of its kind in the world.
  • The Canal: The water passage depicted connects the city's inner canals to the Grand Canal, which is also nearly 2,500 years old.
• Pre-printed Stamp: The upper-right corner features a pre-printed "stamp" (common in postal stationery) showing another view of Suzhou's narrow canals and stone bridges. 

📝 Postal History of This Card

• Cancellation: The card shown has a circular Beijing postmark dated October 2, 1986.
• Usage: Interestingly, while the official release date was November 9, 1986, this card bears an October postmark, which often happens with advance sales or special event usage in different regions.