China: Grand Canal

On 8th December I got two postcards: one from China and one from Germany. 

The card from China shows a bridge of the Grand Canal. The Grand Canal is a vast system of waterways constructed from the 5th century onwards and running from Beijing to Hangzhou. Used for communication and transportation, it has played an important role in ensuring the country’s economic prosperity and stability. It was the World’s largest and most extensive civil engineering project prior to the Industrial Revolution and is since 2014 on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Throughout history the canal has been admired by many including Japanese monk Ennin, Persian historian Rashid al-Din, Korean official Choe Bu and Italian missionary Matteo Ricci.

On 26th September 2009 the Grand Canal was honoured with a set of six stamps, of which four were used on this card. From lower left to the right these stamps show the Qingjiang Water Gate, the Shanshan Guild Hall, the Lantern Lighting Pagoda and the Gongchen Bridge. The Gongchen Bridge is the one shown on the card. Located in Hangzhou, it marks the end of the canal.

 Thank You very much Chen Zhan!