A stamp collector happily shows the stamps she has bought. [Photo by Yu Zhaoyu]

China Post issued special stamps "Gengzi Year" for the "Year of the Mouse" on January 5. The stamps were sold simultaneously at several postal stations in Zhongshan.

According to reports, each set of "Gengzi Year" has 2 special stamps with a face value of 2.40 yuan.

Shortly before 9:00 am on that day, Zhongshan Post Office East District Stamp Flagship Store was crowded with hundreds of collectors who were waiting to buy the special stamps.

Mr Xu, 83, has kept sending stamps to his grandson in Canada for more than 20 years. He said that his grandchildren are studying abroad and they like stamps very much. "Since they can't come back to buy stamps themselves, I will buy and send to them."