Qiaopi Museum Travel Guide
Memory of the World Heritage · Integration of Silver and Trust · Letters from Overseas Chinese Families
Qiaopi are special documents that combine the functions of "remittances and family letters" sent by overseas Chinese back to their hometowns, and in 2013 they were included in the Memory of the World Register. The Shantou Qiaopi Museum collects more than 100,000 qiaopi letters, and reading them one by one is like reading a modern history of immigration written by ordinary people.
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Destination Details
"Qiao" refers to overseas Chinese, and "Pi" in Minnan and Chaoshan dialects means "letter." Qiaopi is a type of document that combines remittance receipts and family letters, sent home by overseas Chinese who went abroad for work in modern times — it is both money and a letter. In 2013, Qiaopi archives were selected for the UNESCO Memory of the World Register.
Key Highlights
Original Letters
The museum displays a large number of original Qiaopi letters. On the top of the envelope front, it is written "Enclosed Silver XX Yuan," while below is the recipient and address, and the amount of money is written in the most prominent position. The contents mostly include phrases like "Is everyone at home well?" or "This time I’m sending thirty yuan, first to settle the debt at the rice shop" — the writing is very plain. When these pieces of paper are put together, they form a modern immigration history written by ordinary people.
Remittance Network
The operation of Qiaopi relied on "Pi Jiao": messengers who traveled specifically between the South Seas and Chaoshan, delivering money letters to each household. The museum displays maps of the delivery routes, tools, and receipts of the Pi Jiao, clearly showing how this grassroots financial network operated.
Memory of the World Heritage
Another part of the exhibition presents the process of applying for Qiaopi heritage recognition, along with related tickets, silver coins, and seals. These small items make the entire system tangible and understandable.
Suggested Tour Route
- Classic: Lobby → Origin of Qiaopi → Letter displays → Remittance network → Heritage application exhibition, about 1 hour.
- Combine with the Small Park Opening Area and Chen Cihong's Former Residence for a day in Shantou Old City.
Practical Information
The museum is located in downtown Shantou, about a fifteen-minute taxi ride, and can be arranged with Small Park in the same half-day trip. The exhibition mainly features text and paper originals, so it is recommended to reserve time to read each piece. Flash photography is prohibited in the museum.
