The zodiac stamps of the upcoming Chinese Lunar Year of the Pig. [Photo/Chinanews.com]

A set of zodiac stamps started printing in China on Monday.

The zodiac stamps of the upcoming Chinese Lunar Year of the Pig contain two items. The first item depicts a pig running towards a better life, while the second shows a five-member pig family living happily.

The stamps will be published on Jan 5, 2019, according to the website of the China National Philatelic Corporation (CNPC).

Han Meilin, the 82-year-old designer of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games mascot Fuwa and the zodiac stamps of Chinese Lunar Year of the Rooster in 2017, also came back to design this year's stamp.

In 1980, the Year of the Monkey, China issued its first official zodiac stamp. Three years later in 1983, Han designed his first stamp for the Year of the Pig.

This is the fourth cycle of zodiac stamps with the theme "happy family."

Since its inception in the 1980s, around 30 artists have worked to design the official stamps, with some like Han having the honor of designing multiple years.