With the upcoming Year of Rooster in China, a set of zodiac stamps featuring the bird were released by China Post on Jan 5 and are proving popular among Wuxi residents.

A buyer shows the newly-released set of rooster zodiac stamps. [Photo/wxrb.com]

The stamp collection contains two stamps in one set, respectively named Yiqi Fengfa (high-spirited and vigorous) and Dingyou Daji (highly auspicious and luck in Year of Rooster). They were designed by famed Chinese illustrator Han Meilin with a face value of 2.4 yuan ($0.35) for a set.

A buyer shows the newly-released set of rooster zodiac stamps. [Photo/wxrb.com]

According to the designer, the first stamp, depicting a running cock, embodies the characteristics of a country in rapid development. The second stamp, a scene of a hen taking care of her chicks, represents family happiness.

Seeing a high collecting value, residents in Wuxi lined up early on Jan 5 despite the gloomy rain at the local stamp outlet.

Wuxi residents line up early in the rain in front of the Postal Savings Bank of China on Jan 5 to buy the newly-released set of rooster zodiac stamps. [Photo/wxrb.com]

So far, the selling price for the stamp set has reached 15 yuan ($2) on various e-commerce websites. A special large-scale version of the stamp set with face value of 38.4 yuan is priced around 150 yuan ($22) online.