Qiaopi are letters and remittances sent by earlier generations of overseas Chinese to their families in China. These correspondences offer rare records of everyday life for overseas Chinese during the 19th and 20th centuries. They have been listed in the UNESCO Memory of the World Register. According to UNESCO’s website, more than 160,000 pieces of qiaopi have been found and preserved in Guangdong and Fujian provinces.

The Longhua Qiaopi Cultural Exhibition Hall is located in Guanlan Ancient Market, on the site of the former Bao’an County Liyuan Qiaopi Bureau.

Qiaopi on display at Longhua Qiaopi Cultural Exhibition Hall.

Located in the Guanlan Ancient Market, the Longhua Qiaopi Cultural Exhibition Hall was once the former Bao’an County Liyuan Qiaopi Bureau, a remittance agency that also delivered letters.

Inside, visitors can explore countless stories behind qiaopi through original letters and remittances, holographic interactive displays, and digital exhibitions. There’s also an opportunity to write a qiaopi letter, creating a “time-travel” experience.

The hall brings qiaopi culture and the history of overseas Chinese to the public, encouraging visitors to read between the lines of the yellowed paper — and discover the resilience and kindness carried by generations of families.

A glance at Longhua Qiaopi Cultural Exhibition Hall.

Visitors can write a qiaopi letter at the Longhua Qiaopi Cultural Exhibition Hall.

Venue: Longhua Qiaopi Cultural Exhibition Hall, Guanlan Boulevard, Longhua District (龙华区观澜大街龙华侨批文化展览馆)

Metro: Line 4 to Guanlan Station (观澜站), Exit B