Geographic Connections

Xiamen, Gulangyu, Wuqiu Jiao, Ershisi Qijiao, Yong’an, Xiaotao, Fuzhou, Mawei, Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Nanchang.

Introduction: The Treaty Port as the ‘Eyes and Ears’ of the World

From the perspective of digital humanities, communication is more than the transfer of information; it is a game of sovereignty. As one of the “Five Treaty Ports,” Xiamen’s postal history is highly emblematic. According to the Xiamen City Chronicles, Xiamen’s external interactions date back to the 16th century. However, the real explosion of modern post and telecommunications occurred at the end of the 19th century. From Qing Dynasty lithographic stamps to the sophisticated telegraph categories of the 1950s, the data in these archives records Xiamen’s transition from being passively integrated into a global network to actively constructing a modern communication system.

Core Archive Interpretation I: The 1896 ‘Halicent’ Emergency Archives

The Xiamen City Chronicles meticulously document a little-known postal crisis: in May 1896, Xiamen suffered a severe “stamp shortage”.

  • Sold Out & Surcharged: Archival data shows that on May 2, 1896, the low-denomination “Halicent” (half-cent) stamps were completely bought out by collectors. To meet urgent demand, the local printing bureau was ordered to overprint “Halfcent” on existing 4-cent and 5-cent stamps.
  • Wide ‘F’ vs. Narrow ‘f’: This emergency led to the creation of the famous “Wide-head F” (issued May 8) and “Narrow-head f” (issued May 20) varieties.
  • Lithographic Entry: On May 11, new lithographic stamps in grey-black, blue-purple, and rose-red arrived from Germany, featuring the first use of the “Xiamen” watermark. This data proves that over 130 years ago, Xiamen possessed a highly mature postal operation system that was fully integrated with international standards.

Core Archive Interpretation II: Telegraph Logic—From 13 Categories to Carrier Dialing

With the advent of radio technology, communication entered the “second-speed era.” The Fujian Provincial Chronicles record the strict logic of the telegraph system:

  • Transmission Priority: In 1957, telegraphs were divided into 13 categories, including Air Defense, Military, and Government. This hierarchy ensured that national security information held an absolute “fast-pass” on limited physical lines.
  • Technological Breakthrough: In September 1978, a breakthrough carrier dual-dialing circuit experiment was completed between Yong’an and Xiaotao. By installing dialing equipment on carrier terminals, town telephones could connect directly to the county’s automatic users without manual operators, shattering the boundary between urban and rural telephony.
  • Efficiency Revolution: This shift from manual switching to carrier dialing was the prelude to digital existence, ensuring that communication resources reached the grassroots levels.

Core Archive Interpretation III: 1979—The Historic Wave across the Strait

The most moving page in the archives is the restoration of communication across the Taiwan Strait. According to records, on February 29, 1979, the Fujian Provincial Bureau of Post and Telecommunications responded to the call for “Three Links” by officially restoring telegraph services to Taiwan.

  • Opening Long-Distance Calls: Starting March 10, long-distance calls to Taiwan were accepted, including those routed through Fujian from other countries.
  • The Flow of Letters: Archives explicitly state that ordinary mail to individuals, companies, and organizations in Taiwan was accepted once more, along with the restoration of registered mail services. This milestone marked the end of 30 years of silence and returned Xiamen to its historic role as a window to Taiwan.

Modern Enlightenment: Infrastructure as the ‘Messenger of Civilization’

Interpreting these digital archives offers three insights for modern governance:

  1. Communication Sovereignty is Development Power: Xiamen’s journey from relying on German printers in 1896 to independent carrier dialing in 1978 reflects the struggle for information autonomy.
  2. Innovation in Crisis: The 1896 surcharge is a classic case of crisis management—using existing resources to solve sudden shortages—a logic still relevant in today’s digital governance.
  3. The Power of Connection: The 1979 restoration proves that communication remains the strongest bond for human connectivity, regardless of physical barriers.

The century-old archives of Xiamen’s post and telecommunications are an epic woven from paper stamps into digital signals. They teach us that a city’s greatness lies not in its size, but in the breadth and depth of the connections it builds with the world.