The photo, taken on January 5, shows people lining up to buy newly issued special stamps themed on the Year of the Ox at the Changsha Railway Station post office. A set of two Year of the Ox stamps, with a total face value of 2.4 yuan, were issued on that day. The Year of Ox, or Chinese traditional lunar New Year of this year, starts from February 12. (Photo/Xu Xing, Hunan Daily)

Drawn by famous artist Yao Zhonghua, the new stamps continue to carry the idea of “Nation-Family”, and express the cultural implications of the ox deeply rooted in the hearts of ordinary Chinese: hardworking, persistent, practical and devoted. 

Beginning in 1980, China Post has been issuing specially designed Chinese zodiac year stamps featuring each of the 12 zodiac animals, to celebrate the Chinese New Year.

Translator: Kuang Zhenzhen

Chinese source: hunantoday.cn