Hello, today, 11 May,  Hong Kong Post issued this  beautiful miniature sheet as part of their World Heritage in China Series.  It shows the "Grand Canal" which was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 2014.  I will be using this on the next 10 orders from  my online store  and getting the stamp hand cancelled so you can be assured of a collectible copy  -   just visit me at the SG Marketplace store here,  or go to the Bidstart store  here  and hopefully you will find some stamps, from the 17,000 in stock,  to fill a few gaps in your collection  - everything is listed by SG number and many by theme.

Some details about the Grand Canal:  It comprises 27 sections with a total length of 1,011 kilometres. Running through Central and Eastern China, it embraces the Sui-Tang Grand Canal, the Beijing-Hangzhou Canal and the Zhedong Canal as well as several major heritage sites.

It  was constructed in sections from the 5th century BC onwards. In the 7th century AD, the ruler of the Sui Dynasty conceived of the Grand Canal as a unified inland transportation system for conveying grain and strategic raw materials. Today, the Grand Canal not only serves as a major transportation route, but also plays an important role in communication, irrigation and water supply for the regions it flows through.  The Grand Canal has enabled the exchange of supplies between northern China and southern China over the centuries. As the longest and oldest artificial waterway in the world, it testifies to the country's remarkable achievements in hydraulic engineering.

The stamp sheet depicts a picturesque view of the Grand Canal in winter snow, featuring scenic attractions along the waterway such as the iconic Gongchen Bridge at the end of the Beijing-Hangzhou Canal in Hangzhou and the Memorial Archway of the Ancient Dongguan Dock in Yangzhou.

Enjoy your stamps, Best wishes   Michael   cddstamps.com