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On September 24, the inaugural event of the Humanitarian and Cultural Series gathered to explore the historical significance of Qiaopi—remittance letters sent by overseas Chinese—highlighting its role in fostering industrial growth and improving rural living conditions in southern China, particularly during the Republican era (1911–1949).
This cultural gathering, recently held in Singapore, was organized collaboratively by a leading financial news platform, Guangdong University of Foreign Studies (GDUFS), and Nanyang Technological University (NTU). The discussion centered around the influence of Qiaopi, commonly called “silver letters,” which were recognized by UNESCO’s Memory of the World Register in 2013.
This marked the launch of the Humanitarian and Cultural Series, an initiative designed to promote international business expansion by encouraging dialogue between professionals across the arts, humanities, commerce, and other fields. The event coincided with an exhibition showcasing historical Qiaopi letters.
Chen Juan, deputy director of the hosting organization, explained that Qiaopi documents trace the migration stories of Chinese emigrants from the mid-1800s onward. They offer a rare glimpse into a transformative phase of China’s financial history, illustrating how ordinary individuals sought better lives for their families abroad.
The surviving Qiaopi artifacts serve as important historical records, revealing social trends and migration routes. After waves of migration from southern China to Southeast Asia and North America in the 19th century, these letters—often containing money and personal notes—funded the construction of homes and infrastructure, while providing emotional reassurance to families back home.
Before official communication networks existed, “water couriers”—individuals who traveled between China and foreign countries—delivered these letters personally. Over time, dedicated organizations and companies formed to streamline remittances more effectively.
The Qiaopi industry prospered for several decades, primarily in the early 20th century, until the Japanese invasion in the 1930s. Despite the rise of modern banking in southern China, many still preferred traditional Qiaopi channels to send money back home. It was only after World War II, with the expansion of formal banking and postal services, that the industry gradually declined.
The opening of the exhibition included an emotional moment when Chen Laihua, director of the Singapore Shilipo Folk Culture Museum, donated a collection of Qiaopi items to GDUFS. Professor Wang Kaihong gratefully accepted the donation on behalf of the university, noting that it would enhance their collection and offer valuable resources for studying overseas Chinese history and culture.
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