Dear You, a film depicting the deep feelings in the hearts of overseas Chinese toward their faraway homeland and family, continues to enjoy widespread popularity, raising awareness of the value of “qiaopi”, letters to and from overseas Chinese during previous eras. Recently, the Hainan Province Archives issued an appeal to the general public to assist in the preservation of these historic missives.

Hainan is well known as a ‘home of overseas Chinese’, and is the origin of over a million returned overseas Chinese and their families as well as over 2.4 million current overseas Chinese and their families now residing in over 60 countries and regions scattered across the globe. Each “qiaopi” letter serves as a historic record of the difficult entrepreneurial journeys these travelers undertook, their longing for loved ones back home, and their unwavering support for the development of their hometowns. These letters constitute invaluable historic documents for the study of the history of modern overseas Chinese, their contributions to the financial record, the operations of the postal system, and the social changes that occurred during that period, while also serving as a spiritual bond connecting the sons and daughters of Hainan—both those remaining on the island and those far away.

To ensure the scientific preservation and enduring legacy of these valuable historic documents, the Hainan Province Archives sincerely invites the public to donate or deposit any “qiaopi” letters in their possession. The following materials are welcome:

1.“Qiaopi” (including return letters) sent by overseas Chinese to relatives back home via private channels during the period from the Qing Dynasty through the early 1980s, as well as related remittance receipts, envelopes, and similar items.

2.Archival materials associated with “qiaopi” letters such as related letters, account books, bills, certificates, family genealogies, vintage photographs, advertisements, commemorative plaques, seals, and stamps.

3.Original documents and artifacts related to the daily lives, work, and community activities of overseas Chinese abroad, such as passports, residence permits, contracts, medals, and tools.

4.Manuscripts, book drafts, notes, diaries, memoirs, and similar writings by prominent overseas Chinese hailing from Hainan.

5.Other archival materials related to overseas Chinese from Hainan.

The Archives will issue Certificates of Collection to donors and provide free, professional custodial services to those wishing to deposit materials for safekeeping. In addition, for “qiaopi” letters appraised by experts as exceptionally valuable and substantial in quantity, negotiations may be held regarding paid acquisition.
Please Contact: Hainan Province Archives Acquisition and Research Division
Contacts: Mr. Shen, Mr. Mo
Contact Number: +86-0898-65368031
Email: hnda65371690@163.com
Address: Hainan Province Archives, #59 Haifu Rd., Meilan District, Haikou City, Hainan Province

For further details, please visit the Hainan Archives Website（https://www.hainan.gov.cn/szfbgt/sdaj/）.