How Qiaopi, a Forgotten Remittance Letter System of the Chinese Diaspora, Inspired a Hit Film

Released in early May, the low-budget Chaoshan-dialect hit film Dear You has brought millions of viewers to tears. Centered on Chinese immigrants in Southeast Asia, the film has also brought qiaopi—a unique form of letters sent with money—back into the spotlight. In an era without wire transfers or reliable mail services, these letters served as a financial and emotional lifeline for the diaspora community, carrying cash and life updates back home.