Scott No: -
Serial number: 2026-5
Values in set: 4
Date of issue: June 1st, 2026
Denomination: 400 fen
Designer: Pan Liping, Hu Yiqina
Size of stamps: 30 * 40 mm
Perforation: 13.5
Sheet composition:
8 for Sheet I;
8 for Sheet II (2 sets, self-adhesive)
Sheet Size:
150 * 135 mm for sheet I;
155 * 125 mm for Sheet II
Printing process: Offset
Printing House: Beijing Postage Stamp Works

China Post will issue a special four-stamp set titled Children’s Games (III) on June 1, 2026. The individual stamps are named: Bamboo Dragonfly, Rubber Band Skipping, Hide-and-Seek and Eagle Chasing Chicks. The total face value of the complete set is 4.00 yuan, with a planned print run of 3.68 million regular sets and 560,000 Format II sheetlets.

Childhood is a precious shared memory for humanity, and traditional children’s games embody the pure joy and fond feelings of successive generations of Chinese youngsters. Set against seasonal backdrops of spring, summer, autumn and winter, the stamp artwork depicts children playing outdoors amid nature. Linked by a subtle globe motif, the four seasonal scenes form an integrated whole with a harmonious balance of motion and stillness. Featuring bright, fresh hues and a warm, soothing atmosphere, the stamps draw on classic folk games to awaken collective memories across generations and showcase the vitality and enduring heritage of fine traditional Chinese culture.

Produced as a se-tenant strip arranged in seasonal order, the four stamps vividly illustrate the four folk games.

The first stamp, Bamboo Dragonfly, is set in spring and captures a child spinning the classic toy while gazing up at the blue sky. A time-honored Chinese toy, the spinning bamboo dragonfly embodies children’s earliest longing for freedom.

The second stamp, Rubber Band Skipping, takes summer as its backdrop, showing children skipping nimbly on green lawns. The bouncing elastic bands are an iconic pastime cherished by generations of Chinese children, brimming with youthful vitality.

The third stamp, Hide-and-Seek, features an autumnal setting with kids laughing and darting among golden foliage. Popular worldwide across eras and regions, this game encapsulates the unspoiled bliss of childhood through hiding and seeking.

The fourth stamp, Eagle Chasing Chicks, is laid against a wintry scene of a lively group game with children running in formation. A beloved traditional team game in China, it highlights innocent friendship and teamwork amid cheerful laughter.

Printed via high-precision offset lithography, the stamps boast bright, lively colors and rich gradations that faithfully convey childlike fun and vitality. Under ultraviolet light, select elements glow with fluorescent ink: bamboo dragonflies, rubber bands and dragonflies on the first two stamps, fallen leaves and blindfolds on the third, plus snowflakes and a snowman on the fourth. This fluorescent feature enhances both ornamental appeal and anti-counterfeiting performance while echoing the carefree childhood theme.

Illustrations of children on the sheet margins coordinate with the stamp designs, enriching the storytelling and playful appeal of the full sheet. Format II is printed on self-adhesive paper with an exclusive hidden surprise: once the entire self-adhesive stamp sheet is peeled off its backing liner, complete folding creases for a paper airplane are revealed on the liner. Users can fold along the marked lines to make a playable paper plane. This innovative design expands the stamp’s function beyond mere collection to interactive fun: the stamp can be affixed to mail for posting, while its backing turns into a flyable paper plane, delivering two different pastimes from a single piece of paper and bringing the stamp to life.

Designed by Pan Liping and Hu Yiqina, edited by Wang Nan, the set is offset-printed by Beijing Stamp Printing Factory Co., Ltd.