A philatelist shows commemorative stamped envelopes of China Grand Canal beside the Gongchen Bridge on the Grand Canal on June 23, 2014, in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province. To mark UNESCO's listing of Grand Canal in the World Heritage list during the 38th session of the World Heritage Committee on Sunday, new limited edition stamps and commemorative stamped envelopes featuring the canal were first published in Hangzhou on Monday, by China National Philatelic Corporation. The series, consisting of 20 stamps, carry various depictions, including a galloping stallion horse with a swallow circling its hoofs, and calligraphies and paintings of 10 scenic spots of the canal created by contemporary famous artists, such as Zeng Mi, Wang Dongling, Kong Zhongqi and Wu Shanming. About 20,000 sets of the limited edition stamps will be issued. The 1,794-kilometer Grand Canal, linking Beijing and Hangzhou, is the longest artificial waterway in the world and runs through eight provincial areas involving 35 cities. Dating back more than 2,400 years, it still plays a dynamic role in transportation, irrigation and flood control. [Photo/IC]