036 CHINA - Guangzhou and Liede Bridge

Guangzhou - known historically as Canton - is the capital and largest city of Guangdong province in China. Located on the Pearl River, about 120 km north-northwest of Hong Kong, Guangzhou is a key national transportation hub and trading port. One of the five National Central Cities, it holds subprovincial administrative status. Guangzhou is the third largest Chinese city. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 12.78 million. In 2008 Guangzhou was identified as a Beta World City by the global city index produced by the GaWC, the Globalization and World Cities Research Network.

The tower in the background is called the Canton Tower. It's a 600 m-high multi-purpose Chinese observation tower. The tower briefly held the title of tallest tower in the world, replacing the CN Tower, before being surpassed by the Tokyo Skytree in 2011. As a new south-north route in the new CBD of Guangzhou, Liede Bridge plays a significant role to the traffic of the city. The main structure of Liede Bridge also has a beautiful name "the shell of the Pearl River". The 4.3 kilometres bridge connects Haizhu District with Tianhe District and opened in 2009.

About the sender

Natalia (postcrossing) sent from Guangzhou (China) on 08.05.2013

010 CZECH REPUBLIC - Historic Centre of Prague

Prague is the Czech capital and the largest city in the Czech Republic. The city is located in almost the centre of the Czech Republic. Prague has been the centre of the Holy Roman Empire over centuries and it had also the first Eastern university, found in 1348. Prague has been a multicultural city with Bohemian (Czech), German and Jewish inhabitants who respected and influenced each other.

Built between the 11th and 18th centuries, the Old Town, the Lesser Town and the New Town speak of the great architectural and cultural influence enjoyed by this city since the Middle Ages. The many magnificent monuments, such as Hradcani Castle, St. Vitus Cathedral, Charles Bridge and numerous churches and palaces, built mostly in the 14th century under the Holy Roman Emperor, Charles IV.

About the stamp

The stamp shows the flower Iris (25Kc).

About the sender

Luca Sebe-Tebe (direct swap) sent from Prague (Czech Republic) on 28.08.2013