Is the era of handwritten letters ending in China?

A collage of personal letters from the 'cultural revolution' (1966-76) days at a Renmin University of China exhibition in Beijing. Photo provided to China Daily

Museum of letters

The most significant drop in paper communication was noticed in China in the past two years.

The amount of business correspondence and advertisement letters being mailed through traditional post in China have been lower, historically, as compared with developed countries in the West, explains Bian Zuodong, director, Division of Universal Service Garantie, an arm of the State Post Bureau.

That's why the Internet and mobile phones have become popular tools of communication in China, he says, citing it as a key reason for the reduction in letters.

The cities of Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and the eastern province of Zhejiang, handle the maximum amount of paper communication. These are also places where China Post can hope to keep its business growing because despite the influence of technology across societies in urban China, the population density creates demand.

In addition, China Post is partnering the country's e-commerce industry with its small-package delivery system, Bian says, adding that China Post is also looking to increase its presence further in the countryside. Until February, 8,051 new post offices have been built, of which, 6,710 are already functioning.

"Although letters' delivery won't die out, ... the business model of postal companies would change from traditional services to modern logistical services," Bian said during an interview in his office in Beijing, last month.

The Internet started to gain popularity in China between 1995 and 2000, with the early birds being white-collars in the big cities and elite college students. But even until a few years later, the then emerging world of cyber communication had little influence on the writing of letters.