Nan Fang Du Shi Bao·2025-03-25 09:42Core Viewpoint - The telegraph service in Hangzhou will cease operations on May 1, 2025, marking the end of a significant era in communication, with only Beijing remaining as the last city providing telegraph services in China [1][3]. Group 1: Telecommunication Service Changes - China Telecom's Hangzhou branch announced the complete cessation of telegraph services in the region starting May 1, 2025, with only Beijing continuing to offer this service [1][3]. - The telegraph business has transitioned to a digital format, where messages are typed on computers and printed before being sent, rather than using traditional telegraph machines [1][3]. - The last telegraph operator in Hangzhou, Ren Hong, will retire in December 2023, marking the end of an era for telegraph services in the city [5]. Group 2: Historical Context and Significance - The telegraph has been a pivotal invention in the history of communication, significantly reducing the time required to transmit information over long distances [7][10]. - The first successful telegraph was sent by Samuel Morse in 1844, which marked the beginning of the telegraph era and established Morse code as the international standard for telegraphic communication [8]. - The establishment of the Telegraph Bureau in China by Li Hongzhang in 1880 initiated a new chapter in Chinese communication history, allowing for instantaneous information transfer between major cities [9][10]. Group 3: Recent Trends and Cultural Impact - A recent social media trend, referred to as "memory killing," has sparked renewed interest in telegraph services, with younger generations visiting Hangzhou to send telegrams for special occasions [3][4]. - The volume of telegrams sent has seen a temporary increase, with Ren Hong reporting a peak of 70 telegrams sent in one day, primarily consisting of non-urgent messages [4][5]. - The nostalgic appeal of telegrams has led to a unique cultural moment, as people seek to capture the essence of communication from a bygone era [3][4].