Pigs fly off shelves as New Year nears

Local pigs also have won people's hearts.

Since China Post issued a set of special zodiac stamps in honor of the 2019 Chinese Lunar New Year on Jan 5, some residents of Beijing have waited overnight or longer at post offices to be the first to collect the stamps.

Hong Kong Post also plans on Saturday to issue a set of special zodiac stamps with gilding and silk decorations to celebrate the Lunar New Year.

In Taiyuan, Shanxi province, Zhutou Alley or Pig-Head Alley has become popular, with many local people posting pictures with the street sign on social media.

The Taiyuan Postal Administration started adding Zhutou Alley as a temporary date stamp on Jan 5.

Ge Xiaobo, a government employee in Taiyuan, went to the post office near the Taiyuan Railway Station for three days, beginning when the Zhutou stamp first became available, to collect the stamps for other collectors around the country.

He also visited the alley and learned about its history.

"Temporary date stamps are rare and I want to share the joy with others," he said.