SOFIA, Jan. 29 (Xinhua) -- Bulgarian Posts has released a postage stamp on the theme "Chinese New Year -- Year of the Metal Rat," its chief executive officer Deyan Daneshki said here on Wednesday.

The stamp depicts a rat on the background of the Hall of Great Harmony in the Forbidden City in Beijing, and has nominal values of 3.00 BGN (1.69 U.S. dollars) and 0.65 BGN with circulations of 7,500 pieces and 3,600 pieces respectively.

"This hall was built in 1420, which was also a Year of the Metal Rat," Daneshki said at the validation ceremony, which took place in the building of the Central Post Office.

"The postage stamp is interesting, and I hope it will spark your interest," Daneshki said at the ceremony attended by more than 100 philatelists eager to buy a piece.

Postage stamps dedicated to the Chinese New Year were issued in Bulgaria in 2017 and 2018, the years of Rooster and Dog respectively, Daneshki said.