A salesperson shows a set of gold bars issued lately to celebrate the forthcoming Year of the Mouse on Nov. 5. Although there still 2 months to go before the coming of 2008, all kinds of "mouse"-related ornaments have hit the market. [Photo: cnsphoto]

The gold bars of the Year of the Mouse were released on the morning of November 22, 2007, and many Beijingers queued in banks to buy them, as the international gold price had hit a new high.

The sale of gold bars started at 9:00 am, but those who arrived at 9:10 found that they were out of stock. Some of them complained to the bank clerks, in vain.

The gold bar of the Year of the Sheep was released 6 years ago, and its price was 92 yuan per gram. The price of the gold bar of the Year of the Mouse is 219 yuan per gram.

Three tons of the gold bars of the Year of the Mouse have been issued in the market. Now the customers are able to make reservations for the gold bars of the Year of the Bull.