A mother helps her son to design a Chinese New Year-themed stamp. [Photo from WeChat account zjg_msg6910]

Stamps to commemorate Chinese New Year, which this year falls on Jan 28 and marks the start of the Year of the Rooster, are usually designed by master painters.

But children in Zhangjiagang, Jiangsu province were given the chance to create their own rooster-themed stamps at Zhangjiagang Art Museum on Dec 31, 2016.

The children were first introduced to various types of stamps, including traditional Chinese New Year designs featuring the 12 auspicious animals of the Chinese zodiac.

Children display their creations at a Year of the Rooster-themed stamp design activity held by Zhangjiagang Art Museum on Dec 31, 2016. [Photo from WeChat account zjg_msg6910]

The rooster-themed stamps created by the renowned painter Han Meilin were the most popular with the children. Depicting the happy life of a family of roosters, the stamps vividly evoke ideas of integrity, nobility and shrewdness.

After choosing their preferred art materials, the children let their imaginations run wild, creating all kinds of colorful and cute works, including some ink paintings, line drawings and color pencil sketches.

Five works were selected as winners and will be entered into the Third Zhangjiagang Teenagers Stamp Design Competition co-organized by the municipal bureau of education and city post office.

One of the winning designs created by a child from Zhangjiagang [Photo from WeChat account zjg_msg6910]