Like any country keen to publicise major achievements The People’s Republic of China has used its postage stamps and other philatelic media to commemorate its manned spaceflight programme. Satellite states like North Korea and Mongolia have also contributed philatelically and curiously a group of African countries, not necessarily because of a homage to Communist achievement but allowing stamps to be issued bearing their names brings revenue to their postal authorities or governments, even if the stamps are never or hardly ever used on postage in those territories, often the case. Many of these issues are simply produced as souvenirs for the general public or for the “astrophilatelist”, as the collecting of space topics on stamps is particularly popular in the Far East.

Four unmanned launches of Shen Zhou took place between November 1999 and December 2003 and stamps showing the Shen Zhou carrier and orbiter above were issued by China in January 2000.

 

Shen Zhou 5

Then Shen Zhou 5 was launched from Jiuquan Launch Centre on 15.10.03 carrying the first Taikonaut Yang Liwei and returned the next day.

SZ5 Launch Cover and SZ5 Landing Cover

The cancels show dates and times including the hour with mission patches on the left.

SZ5 China stamps on Cover

Showing a cancel for the day of return this part show patriotic images of Yang Liwei. The Chinese State Post Bureau allocated the names “Heroic Bearing” and “Triumphant Return” to the designs.

SZ5 Chad, SZ5 Saint Thomas, SZ5 Congo, SZ5 N. Korea, SZ5 Hong Kong and SZ5 Macau.

All clearly colourful souvenir issues, not intended for being broken up for use on mail.

 

Shen Zhou 6

Shen Zhou 6 was launched from Jiuquan on 12.10.05 carrying Fei Junlong and Nie Haisheng returning on the 16th.

SZ6 Pr China Nie Haisheng and Fei Junlong labels.

One of three souvenir sheets issued to commemorate manned space flight, the others of similar format being for Nie’s co-pilot Fei Junlong and for first taikonaut Yang Liwei. The design comprises four 80 fen P.R.C. definitives showing the Great Wall with labels depicting the taikonauts’ faces.

These were produced not by State Post Bureau but by the China National Philatelic Corporation, (C.N.P.C.) as a commercial venture.

SZ6 PR China se-tenant pair, showing Shenzhou 6 and on left Geospace Double Star Exploration probe. Official State Post Bureau issues.

SZ6 Samoa & SZ6 Mongolia souvenir issues, not intended for being broken up for use on mail.

 

Shen Zhou 7

Shen Zhou 7 was launched from Jiuquan on 25.9.08 (and not as expected during the Beijing Olympics) carrying Zhai Zhigang, Liu Buoming and Jing Haipeng returning on the 28th Zhai was backup pilot for SZ5 and became the nation’s first spacewalker on this mission.

SZ7 PR China sheet in Pres Pack (Presentation Pack). Again a C.N.P.C. production, showing the astronauts on labels beneath 1.20 yuan definitives, from left Zhai, Liu and Jing with signatures below.

C.N.P.C. also produced launch, in orbit and landing covers bearing a 1.20 yuan definitive stamp with auspicious dragon on label and cancel showing a floating taikonaut.

To date there has been no official State Bureau issue to commemorate SZ7, perhaps because of the plethora of issues for the Olympic Games in the second half of 2008.

The Chinese next plan to launch two Shen Zhou craft simultaneously and perform a docking in orbit so creating their own small space station. They also plan to launch a female taikonaut. These plans are currently made for 2012.