Why does the Beijing Postcard have fewer unique parts than other postcards?

The tiered temple roofs repeat similar shapes, so the same elements get reused several times. That lowers the count of unique parts even though the total piece count stays similarly high.

Does the set include minifigures?

No, like the other city postcards, the set consists only of the silhouette and the frame.

What does the postcard depict?

The picture centres on the curved, dark green roofs of traditional temple buildings, characteristic of Beijing's historic architecture.

Creator

Beijing Postcard

The Beijing Postcard captures the city's skyline through the curved, tiered roofs of traditional temple architecture. With 276 pieces but only 78 unique elements, the set relies far more on repetition than other city postcards in the range. Like the rest of the series, it has no minifigures, keeping the focus entirely on silhouette and roofline.

Set number: 40654
Year: 2022
Pieces: 276
Minifigures: 0
Theme: Creator
Different parts: 78

What can I build with it?

View the official building instructions at LEGO® ↗

Parts list 78

As BrickLink list (XML)

Import on BrickLink: Wanted → Upload, upload the file (or paste its content), pick a Wanted List and add the parts.

Spare parts (11)

These extra parts come with the set in case one gets lost.

Description

Roofs instead of towers

Where several western city postcards in the range lean on tall towers and bridges, Beijing's picture is defined by curved, multi-tiered roofs typical of traditional temple complexes. That roof shape calls for different pieces than a straight tower profile would: angled and stepped elements build up the characteristic silhouette, while the base stays comparatively flat. The result is a city picture that stands apart visually from the more vertical postcards of other metropolises in the series, spreading outward rather than climbing upward.

Only 78 elements: heavy repetition

With 78 unique elements out of 276 pieces, the part variety sits well below London's postcard from the same set year. The tiered roof design explains why: several temple roofs repeat similar steps and edges, so the same pieces get reused across the model. For the build, that means a steadier rhythm with recurring sections, while specialised pieces are reserved for specific details such as roof tips or gateway arches.

Dark green as the roof colour

Dark green stands out clearly in the colour palette, evoking the glazed roof tiles seen on traditional Chinese temple buildings. Sandy tan fills in the walls and background, while light bluish grey and black handle outline and detail work. That combination keeps the roofs reading as a distinct, easily recognisable layer above the rest of the silhouette rather than blending into the overall shape.

A compact picture, no figures

Like the rest of the postcard series, the Beijing edition comes without minifigures and is built as a flat picture meant for hanging. The frame pulls the roofline together into a self-contained scene that pairs well with other city postcards from the range. Working through the parts list on this page mainly turns up roof and outline pieces, which also suit small pagoda or temple builds of your own. Hung next to other postcards, the different roof styles become easy to compare at a glance.

FAQ

Why does the Beijing Postcard have fewer unique parts than other postcards?: The tiered temple roofs repeat similar shapes, so the same elements get reused several times. That lowers the count of unique parts even though the total piece count stays similarly high.
Does the set include minifigures?: No, like the other city postcards, the set consists only of the silhouette and the frame.
What does the postcard depict?: The picture centres on the curved, dark green roofs of traditional temple buildings, characteristic of Beijing's historic architecture.