Core Points - The telegraph service in Hangzhou officially ended on May 1, marking the closure of a significant communication method in China, with only Beijing remaining as the last city offering telegraph services [1][2] - On the final day, the telegraph office in Hangzhou experienced an unprecedented surge in usage, with a total of 5,846 telegrams sent, reflecting a nostalgic revival of interest in this communication form [4] Group 1 - The last night of telegraph service saw a diverse crowd, including elderly individuals and young students, gathering to send their final telegrams, leading to a shortage of telegraph paper [2][3] - The telegraph business in Hangzhou had seen a dramatic increase in activity, with the office manager noting that the volume of telegrams had significantly risen in the weeks leading up to the closure [2][4] - Historical context indicates that the telegraph service peaked in the 1980s, with over 200 million telegrams sent in Zhejiang province alone, but has since declined due to advancements in communication technology [4][6] Group 2 - The last telegram was sent by a dedicated telegraph operator, symbolizing the end of an era in communication history [5][6] - Experts acknowledge that the discontinuation of telegraph services is a natural progression in the evolution of communication technology, as society moves towards more advanced methods [6]

Core 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].