For hundreds of years, people all over the world have written letters to express their affection and longing for family and loved ones who are far away.
This is no different in China, where filial piety has been ingrained into people thanks to Confucian, Buddhist and Taoist values that have been enshrined for centuries.
The Chaoshan region, in eastern Guangdong, is home to a particular historical culture of letter writing called qiaopi, also known as Teochew letters.
These letters, added to Unesco’s Memory of the World Register in 2013, are valued as historical objects because their contents offer insight into the history of Chinese migration.
From national issues and international relations to daily activities and family affairs, qiaopi were a reflection of society and of the lives of Teochew people.
