A series of zodiac stamps featuring the rooster were released by China Post on Jan 5 just before the arrival of China's Year of the Rooster, and are proving popular among Yantai residents.

Designed by the well-renowned Chinese illustrator Han Meilin, who is a Shandong province native, the stamp collection consists of two stamps in one set, respectively named Yi Qi Feng Fa (full of high spirits in the new year) and Ding You Da Ji (auspicious and good luck in the Year of the Rooster), with a face value of 2.4 yuan ($0.35) for each set.

According to designer Han the first stamp reifies a country in rapid growth by depicting a running cock. The second stamp, a scene of a hen taking care of her chicks, represents family happiness.

As the new stamps have a high collecting value, Yantai residents lined up at the local stamp outlet early on Jan 5 despite the cold of the winter morning.

"I have been collecting stamps for more than 10 years. And zodiac stamps are quite precious for stamp collectors," said Mr. Li in the line in front of a stamp specialty store in Yantai.