China

Time Traveler | Cool Facts! | Technology | Post Explorer

Time Traveler
  The first Chinese postal service began during the Chou Dynasty (BC 1111-255). As the era progressed towards the Han Dynasty, the postal network of couriers was largely expanded to include more post relays and couriers. The postal service must have been a vital means of communication especially in the time of fierce wars and battles because the Ministry of War took control of the postal service at that time.

As the last Qing Dynasty ended, China had its postal service renamed to the Chinese Post. Years of civil riot and Japanese invasion left the service poorly administered and undeveloped. It was not until 1949 when the People's Republic of China was formed and an official Ministry of Telecommunications was formed that the postal service was finally reorganized with a wide network of links to even the remote regions of China.

Cool Facts!
  This was also the time when the Chinese first made contact with the Romans, and it was a noticeable fact that the Romans emulated the Han's postal service in certain aspects. The Chinese postal service's efficiency was so renowned that it inspired the famous poet Confucius as well as famous explorer Marco Polo to reveal to Europe this marvel of communication.

Technology
  Postal research centers have been specially allocated to focus on the development of new machinery exclusively for the postal service. To aid in reading addresses and postal codes, optical code readers and bar code readers were also introduced to facilitate efficiency.

In addition, more than 3 million miles of road, air, and rail links radiate from the country's capital Beijing all over China, facilitating the delivery of mail.

To modernize the Chinese postal service, at least 40,000 automobiles, 3 aircraft, 670 railway cars and a substantial number of mail-sorting devices will be purchased.

Post Explorer
  The Chinese postal service is currently facing challenges from privatized express delivery firms and the universal rival of snail mail vs. electronic mail.