China Post is to issue a set of two special stamps entitled Yi-Si Year and a stamp booklet. The designs of the stamps are respectively named Snake Presents Bumper Harvest and Happiness Embraces All Blessings. The planned circulation is 26.80 million sets, 1.62 million sheets for layout 2, and 3.87 million stamp booklets.

Inspired by Dunhuang murals and traditional Chinese folklore, this set of stamps ingeniously combines the image of snakes with auspicious meanings, reflecting not only the unique charm of zodiac culture but also the simple and flexible folk wisdom. The first design Snake Presents Bumper Harvest has distilled and refined the vibrant imagery of the coiling snake in traditional Chinese culture and added festive decorations to create a new year atmosphere. The golden snake, coiling and holding an ear of golden wheat in its mouth, symbolizes the beautiful prospect of full granaries and abundant food and clothing. The golden snake, together with the golden wheat ear, depicts a picture of a golden and affluent harvest season, promising a year of good weather for crops and abundant harvests as well as a great era when people are living harmoniously in a prosperous and peaceful nation. The second design Happiness Embraces All Blessings has artistically created the Chinese character “福” (meaning happiness) in cursive writing style with three snakes, making the picture concise, free and smooth. The three snakes, two big and one small, with love surrounding them and affection in their eyes, vividly present the warm scene of a happy family, which implies harmonious coexistence and abounding blessings, and embodies people’s infinite pursuit and sincere wishes for a better life.

The set of stamps is printed by Beijing Stamp Printing House Company Limited with offset intaglio technology. The denomination of the whole set is 2.40 yuan. The planned circulation is 26.80 million sets, 1.62 million sheets for layout 2, and 3.87 million stamp booklets.

In addition, China Post, Hongkong Post and Macao Post and Telecommunications will jointly issue a souvenir pack containing a miniature sheet on the same zodiac theme. The miniature sheet is composed of two sets of two imperforated stamps each issued by China Post, a set of four stamps issued by Hongkong Post and a set of four stamps issued by Macao Post and Telecommunications. The serial number of the miniature sheet is MHKM-2, and its size is 206 x 200 mm. It is printed by the Anti-counterfeit and Secret-keeping Technology Printing Company of Henan Province with offset intaglio technology. The selling price of the souvenir pack is 52 yuan.

Starting from January 5, the set of stamps will be available at designated postal outlets nationwide, online mall of China Philately (https://jiyou.11185.cn), the mobile app of China Post, the WeChat Mall for philatelic products in the official WeChat account of China Post Group and the WeChat mini program of China Post Group.