Stamps depicting pigs commemorate the Chinese New Year, Jan 5. [Photo/ntjoy.com]

A set of commemorative stamps honoring the Chinese New Year, or the Year of the Pig, were released to the public in Nantong, East China’s Jiangsu province, on Jan 5.

The set, issued by China Post, features one stamp with an enormously plump pig –– a symbol of prosperity in Chinese culture, and another stamp depicting a family of five pigs representing unity and happiness.

The stamps were designed by renowned artist Han Meilin, who has been designing special issues of stamps for China Post since 1980. He was also the designer of the Fuwa mascots for the Beijing Olympic Games in 2008.

The Nantong office of China Post holds a ceremony to mark a new issue of stamps commemorating the Year of the Pig, Jan 5.[Photo/ntjoy.com]

Local residents queue to purchase the new commemorative issue of stamps, Jan 5. [Photo/ntjoy.com]