Each year, six outstanding painters around the world are chosen by the United Nations to freely design pictures as six first-day cover stamps. Chen also won this honor in 1985 and selected Zhouzhuang as his subject. Issued by UN headquarters, Geneva and Vienna, this first-day cover was not only warmly welcomed, but also populated Zhouzhuang in the world.

The Kunshan Stamp Company also issued a series of first-day cover stamps in congratulation for the opening of Chen's gallery at the end of 1996. Zhouzhuang was still the theme of those stamps. His gallery was opened in Shanghai on December 21st, and in Beijing on January 31st, 1997, and continued across a number of other cities and countries throughout the following year, including Hong Kong and Singapore.

The first-day cover would be issued in a new place every time. The first one would always be Reminiscence of a Hometown, and the second would always be Water Alleys in Old Towns. On the stamp, several boats quietly lie on the river, shrouded by the morning mist. Along the river, local residences with black rooves and white walls stand still. In the remote area, dimly, there is an arch bridge. Many artists at home and abroad have been enlightened by the wonderful scenery at Zhouzhuang. Васильевич, a Russian painter and four other painters once visited Zhouzhuang. Васильевич, known as Pavel Korchagin in art circles, dedicatedly drew pictures of Zhouzhuang with his arms, since his two hands were blown off by a landmine long ago. He even exclaimed, “I feel just like I am in a dream! It is too awesome! If I have to describe it, it’s a small Venice in China!”

Chen Fuli, a Hong Kong photographer, attended the International Festival for Travelling Photograph. Though more than 80 years old, he took many valuable pictures on the Double Bridge in the morning. Two days later, he came there again and told a reporter, “Zhouzhang is so fascinating that I will come again!”