A release ceremony for a special set of stamps to commemorate the "Year of the Rat" was held in Changshun County in southwest China's Guizhou Province on Saturday, January 5, 2008. [Photo: Xinhua]

China released a special set of stamps to commemorate the "Year of the Rat," according to the Chinese lunar calendar, Xinhua News Agency reported.

A release ceremony was held in Changshun County in southwest China's Guizhou Province, as the Shuchang post office there is the only one that contains the Chinese character for "mouse" in its name. Many people rushed to the county to obtain the rat indicia, which only can be postmarked in Changshun.

Each set contains one stamp, which has a face value of 1.2 yuan, or approximately 16 US cents.

A colorfully clothed rat is depicted on the stamp, which celebrates the beginning of the new year.

It is the first stamp China Post has issued in 2008.

Collectors lined up in post offices across the country to purchase the stamps, which are the fifth set in China's third collection of zodiac stamps.

A staff member shows two postcards with special mouse pictures and stamps in celebration of the "Year of the Rat" in east China's Shangdong Province on Saturday, January 5, 2008. [Photo: Xinhua]

A collector shows her stamp album, which includes stamps just issued in celebration of the "Year of the Rat" on Saturday, January 5, 2008. [Photo: Xinhua]

Stamp collectors line up to purchase a special set of stamps in celebration of the "Year of the Rat" in Nanjing, capital of east China's Jiangsu Province, on Saturday, January 5, 2008. [Photo: Xinhua]

(CRI January 6, 2008)