China Post issued a set of six special stamps featuring the Yangtze River Economic Zone, namely Great Protection, Multimodal Transport Corridor, Industrial Transformation and Upgrading, New-Type Urbanization, and the New Pattern of Opening-Up and Balanced Development among Regions, with a denomination of 7.8 yuan (0.1 U.S. dollars), as well as a souvenir sheet with a denomination of 11.7 yuan (1.17 U.S. dollars), on August 26, 2018.

The Yangtze River Economic Zone covers 11 provinces and cities, namely Shanghai, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Anhui, Jiangxi, Hubei, Hunan, Chongqing, Sichuan, Yunnan and Guizhou. It covers an area of 2.05 billion square kilometers, accounting for 21 percent of China's land. The population and economic aggregate account for more than 40 percent of the total country. It has important ecological status, strong comprehensive strength and great potential for development.

Promoting the development of the Yangtze River Economic Zone is a priority for the Party Central Committee and the State Council to lead China's economic development. It has great significance in achieving the Two Centenary Goals and realizing the Chinese Dream of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

This set of stamps features the all-round development of the Yangtze River Economic Zone using drawings done by hand. The first stamp depicts the development concept of protecting the beautiful natural ecology of the Yangtze River Economic Zone. The second shows the scientific and efficient integrated corridor in the area. The third displays the industrial transformation and upgrading of the zone as well as the cultivation of new kinetic energy in this area. The fourth features the new urbanization of the people-oriented economy there. The fifth presents the new pattern of opening-up in the Yangtze River Economic Zone. Finally, the sixth depicts the regional coordinated development there.

The set of stamps was designed by the outstanding illustrator Zou Qing, and was printed by Henan Post Printing Factory using an offset printing process.

Offer for sale: This set of stamps is available at designated postal outlets, the online philatelic shop of China Post (http://jiyou.11185.cn), China Philately mobile client and the China Philately Wechat Mall since they were issued on August 26, 2018. This set of stamps will be sold for six months.

China Post will issue a set of one special stamp featuring wild geese, with a denomination of 1.2 yuan (0.17 US dollars), on August 17, 2018.

Wild geese (Latin: anser) are widespread in China, and comprise the swan goose, grey goose, bean goose, white-fronted goose, bar-headed goose, etc.

Wild geese live in a flock. Male-female pairs mate for life; neither of them will find another partner if the female or the male dies, which is a symbol of unwavering love.

“Can somebody tell me/ What is love supposed to be?/ That makes me hold no fear in the face of death./ With your absence/ My existence is meaningless on Earth.” These timeless verses vividly show that wild geese are very faithful in matters of love.

This stamp features a male and a female wild goose flying wing to wing against the background of seven wild geese flying in a herringbone arrangement. Under these birds, there are also seven reeds swaying in the breeze. These all symbolize China's Qixi Festival, which falls on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month, and express good wishes for love.

The stamp was designed by famous Che school painter Ma Feida, and was printed by the Beijing Stamp Printing House using a woodblock overprinting.

Offer for sale: This set of stamps is available at designated postal outlets, the online philatelic shop of China Post (http://jiyou.11185.cn), China Philately mobile client and the China Philately Wechat Mall since they were issued on August 17, 2018. This set of stamps will be sold for six months.

China Post issued a set of six special stamps featuring the Twenty-Four Solar Terms, namely the Beginning of Autumn, the Limit of Heat, White Dew, the Autumnal Equinox, Cold Dew and Frost's Descent, with a denomination of  7.2 yuan (0.055 U.S. dollars), on August 7, 2018.

The Twenty-Four Solar Terms are the knowledge hierarchy and social practice of astronomical phenomena, phenology, seasons and natural changes for Chinese people. The ancient Chinese people divided the track of the annual movement of the sun into 24 equal parts, each of which was a solar term. All of them were collectively referred to as the twenty-four solar terms.

The twenty-four solar terms are not only an important vehicle of Chinese cultural identity, but also a vivid testimony to human cultural diversity. In 2016, the twenty-four solar terms were officially inscribed on the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization's (UNESCO) Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

The Beginning of Autumn is the 13th solar term. According to Chinese custom, people usually have more delicious food to pack on a few pounds during this period. Thus, the stamp shows a warm scene where family members sit around a table, enjoying delicacies.

The Limit of Heat is the 14th solar term. Warm days and cool nights are conducive to the growth of crops in this time. Also, people in some areas have begun to harvest. The stamp features farmers taking care of their crops.

White Dew is the 15th solar term. Due to the maximum temperature difference between day and night, it is advisable to exercise sufficiently to keep fit. The stamp displays some elderly persons and children boxing and keeping fit.

The Autumnal Equinox is the 16th solar term. This is when farming activities reach their peak in autumn. At this time, persimmons are ripe in some areas. The stamp depicts an old man leading children to collect persimmons, signifying that everything is safe and sound.

Cold Dew is the 17th solar term. Most areas in China have entered autumn. In people’s daily lives, it is common to prepare thick clothes. The stamp displays a tailor custom-making clothes for his customers.

Frost's Descent is the 18th solar term. Maples, yellow oak and other trees begin to turn reddish yellow. Because their color looks like fire, they are very spectacular, inviting people to admire their beauty. In the stamp, visitors are enjoying the red autumn leaves, unwilling to leave.

This set of stamps was designed by member of the China Artists Association Liu Jingui and vice chief designer of the Postage Stamp Printing Bureau (PSPB) of China Post Group Wang Huming, and was printed by the Beijing Stamp Printing House using a heliographic printing process.

Offer for sale: This set of stamps is available at designated postal outlets, the online philatelic shop of China Post (http://jiyou.11185.cn), China Philately mobile client and the China Philately Wechat Mall since they were issued on August 7, 2018. This set of stamps will be sold for six months.

China Post issued a set of four special stamps featuring Four Landscape Sceneries as well as a souvenir sheet, namely Spring Scenery, Summer Scenery, Autumn Scenery and Winter Scenery, with a denomination of 10 yuan (1.465 U.S. dollars), on August 4, 2018.

The Four Landscape Sceneries were painted by Liu Songnian, one of the Four Masters of the Southern Song Dynasty (1127-1276), using ink and pigment on silk. They are 40 cm in length and 69 cm in width, and part of the collection of the Palace Museum, Beijing.

The set of stamps features spring, summer, autumn and winter sceneries. The colors are in keeping with the individual seasons. They are considered masterpieces by Liu Songnian, which combines Jiehua and the seasonal landscapes perfectly. Jiehua, or boundary painting, draws on community palaces, pavilions, houses and other buildings as a theme and is the accurate depiction of architectural forms with the aid of a ruler.

The Spring Scenery features a manor along an embankment, where peach and plum trees vie with one another in the splendor of their blossoms. The willow trees are shady and the mountains are misty, all of which show that spring is in the air.

The Summer Scenery shows a lakeside pavilion, in front of which the lake shore  is embellished with flowers and trees. The pavilion extends into the lake. It has the charm of the Bai Causeway of the West Lake. In the picture, a master sits in the atrium and enjoys the view, with a servant standing beside him.

The Autumn Scenery displays leaves of an old tree turning red and purple after frost. A courtyard is fringed with trees and stones, and a bridge leads to serenity.  In the courtyard, the windows are bright and clean. An old man sits alone and restores his spirit. There is a servant fetching water and cooking tea for him.

The Winter Scenery focuses on a lakeside courtyard house. At a distance there are straight pine trees. Bamboos, mountains, stones, roofs and the ground are covered with snow. At the end of a bridge, an old man is riding a donkey with an umbrella in hand. A servant leads the way for him. They go over the snow in search of plums, looking leisurely and comfortable.

This set of stamps was designed by Wang Huming, vice chief designer of the Postage Stamp Printing Bureau (PSPB) of China Post Group, and printed by Henan Post Printing Factory using a woodblock overprinting process.

Offer for sale: This set of stamps is available at designated postal outlets, the online philatelic shop of China Post (http://jiyou.11185.cn), China Philately mobile client and the China Philately Wechat Mall since they were issued on August 4, 2018. This set of stamps will be sold for six months.

China Post issued a set of five commemorative stamps featuring Chinese national heroes of modern times, namely Guan Tianpei, Lin Zexu, Feng Zicai, Liu Yongfu and Deng Shichang, with a denomination of 6 yuan (0.878 U.S. dollars), on July 29, 2018.

After the Opium War in 1840, a large number of people with lofty ideals, represented by Lin Zexu and Guan Tianpei, fought against foreign aggression and oppression, maintained national sovereignty and interests, and became worthy national heroes.

Guan Tianpei (1781-1841), born in Huaian City, east China's Jiangsu Province, was a famous patriotic general in the Qing Dynasty (1636-1912). During his tenure as admiral in the Qing Dynasty in Guangdong, Guan gave full support to Lin Zexu's destruction of opium at Humen Beach. After the outbreak of the Opium War, the British army invaded the fort of Humen. Guan led the guards to resist resolutely, and was finally martyred.

Lin Zexu (1785-1850), born in Fuzhou City, south China's Fujian Province, was a great patriot of modern China. He banned opium in Guangdong Province in 1839 and burnt 20,000 boxes of collected opium, about 1.185 million kilograms, in Humen beach. Lin compiled some foreign books and materials, making Chinese people begin to break the shackles of the concept of Huayi, and learn from the West.

Feng Zicai (1818-1903), born in Shawei Village, south China's Guangdong Province (now located in Guangxi Province), was a patriotic general in the late Qing Dynasty. During the Sino-French War of 1883-1885, 70-year-old Feng was named military assistant outside Shanhaiguan Pass. He routed the French army, won the war of Zhen Nanguan, and captured Wenyuan, Lang Son and other key towns.

Liu Yongfu (1837-1917), born in Qinzhou City, south China's Guangdong Province (now located in Guangxi Province), was a patriotic general in the late Qing Dynasty. Liu participated in the Sino-French War with his black flag troops in 1883, and repeatedly defeated the French army. During the Sino-Japanese War of 1894-1895, he was ordered to fight the Japanese army in Taiwan. After Taiwan fell, Liu, as an anti-Japanese leader, continued to lead local masses to resist Japan.

Deng Shichang (1849-1894), born in Panyu District, south China's Guangdong Province, was a patriotic general in the late Qing Dynasty. He was commander of the North Atlantic Fleet during the First Sino-Japanese War. Deng fought bravely against the Japanese army in the battle of the Yellow Sea, and eventually sacrificed his own life for the cause.

The set of stamps was created using traditional Chinese painting techniques. The first stamp depicts Guan Tianpei standing on the top of a battery, holding a sword, and commanding the battle of Humen. The second shows the historical scene of Lin Zexu's destruction of opium at Humen Beach and the third one shows Feng Zicai jumping from the wall of Zhennanguan, and rushing against the French army. The fourth displays Liu Yongfu's foray into Lintao County and defeating the French army, while in the fifth stamp, Deng Shichang holds a telescope in hand, calmly commanding  the  soldiers of the North Atlantic Fleet.

This set of stamps was designed by the young painter Meng Fancong and was printed by the Beijing Stamp Printing House using a heliographic printing process.

Offer for sale: This set of stamps is available at designated postal outlets, the online philatelic shop of China Post (http://jiyou.11185.cn), China Philately mobile client and the China Philately Wechat Mall since they were issued on July 29, 2018. This set of stamps will be sold for six months.

China Post issued a set of four special stamps featuring fruits, namely Pineapples, Cherries, Mangoes and Oranges, with a denomination of 5.4 yuan (0.79 U.S. dollars), on July 14, 2018.

Pineapple, a tropical fruit, was introduced to China from Brazil in the sixteenth century. As one of the four famous fruits of the southern China Five Ridges area, it is mainly distributed in Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan, Yunnan and other places.

Pineapple is homophonic to "Wang Lai" in southern Fujian dialect, which means "the source of revenue is thriving."

Cherry's English pronunciation is similar to the word "cherish." In China it is mainly grown in Liaoning, Hebei, Shaanxi, Gansu, Shandong, Henan, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Jiangxi, Sichuan and so on.

Mangoes, another tropical fruit, are native to India. The Mangiferaindica Linn mentioned in the Buddhist Records of the Western World is the ancient name of the fruit. It is also called "Wang Guo" after being introduced to China, which means "expectation." It is mainly distributed in Yunnan, Guangxi, Guangdong, Hainan, Fujian, Taiwan, Sichuan and other places.

Oranges are distributed mainly in Hubei, Hunan, Jiangsu, Guizhou, Guangxi, Yunnan, Gansu, Shaanxi and so on. "Orange" is homophonic to "sincerity" in Chinese, which means wholeheartedness and may all wishes come true.

This set of stamps has been created with watercolor painting techniques, and features fruits against a beige background, creating pleasant and warm still life scenes and featuring the greenness and freshness of fruits.

The images of the fruits are structured, distinct and clear. The stamps vividly display the deliciousness and sweetness of the fruits.

The set of stamps was designed by Guo Zhenshan, a member of the China Artists Association and vice president of the Tianjin Academy of Fine Arts, and printed by Henan Post Printing Factory using an offset printing process.

Offer for sale: This set of stamps is available at designated postal outlets, the online philatelic shop of China Post (http://jiyou.11185.cn), China Philately mobile client and the China Philately Wechat Mall since they were issued on July 14, 2018. This set of stamps will be sold for six months.