China Post began to issue New Year stamps to mark the year related to each of the 12 animals in the Chinese zodiac in 1980. And many prominent artists have designed zodiac animal stamps, including Zhou Lingzhao, Huang Yongyu and Han Meilin.

The project will celebrate its 40th anniversary in 2019 which corresponds to the Year of the Rat. So, China Post recently launched a competition in Beijing, inviting designers from around the world to submit ideas for creativity products which can go with the Year of the Rat stamps which are being designed by Han.

Those interested can visit their website and upload their works. Finalists will be critiqued by a jury panel consisting of designers, scholars of folk culture, leading figures in international communication and also an online voting by the public.