On August 17th, at the "Cultural Exhibition of Overseas Chinese of Guangdong Origin" of the 2025 Southern China Book Fair, many overseas Chinese, scholars, and experts in Qiaopi studies gathered at the forum "Patriotism in Qiaopi: Heartfelt Letters Amid the Flames of War" to discuss the deep devotion to the motherland reflected in Qiaopi, which was included in the UNESCO's Memory of the World Register.

The cultural exhibition organized by Jinan University consists of a showcase of fine publications and a Qiaopi-themed exhibition. The fine publication exhibition features over 200 titles related to overseas Chinese culture, published by multiple Guangdong-based publishing houses. The Qiaopi-themed exhibition, against the backdrop of the 80th anniversary of the Victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, highlights the interplay of "wartime family letters" and "historical artifacts." It not only demonstrates the documentary value of Qiaopi as part of UNESCO's Memory of the World Register, but also underscores the enduring patriotism of overseas Chinese of Guangdong origin, who bore both personal and national responsibility in times of hardship.

Lin Qingxi, the honorary curator of the Shantou Qiaopi Museum, drew on extensive Qiaopi archives from the Chaoshan region to explore the support and contributions of Chaoshan overseas Chinese to the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression, from the perspectives of cross-border traders, and the Qiaopi Bureau. For instance, one piece of Qiaopi sent to Shantou from overseas on December 21st, 1931, bore a stamp with the slogan "Compatriots, wake up and support domestic products!"

Wei Jinhua, the curator of the Meizhou Overseas Chinese Museum, introduced two vital lifelines for overseas Chinese hometowns in Guangdong after the full-scale outbreak of the war of resistance: the Hong Kong–Shayuchong remittance route and the "Hump Route." When Japanese forces blockaded the coast and disrupted connections with overseas Chinese from Guangdong, the Hong Kong–Shayuchong remittance route, with the Shayuchong Post Office serving as an international transfer hub, maintained mail exchanges between China and over 40 countries. It became one of the most crucial channels for remittances to reach Guangdong's overseas Chinese hometowns.

The exhibition will run until August 19th. During the event, publishing houses from Guangdong donated a collection of books to the Guangzhou branch of the China National Archives of Publications and Culture, while Ke Zhenqing, secretary-general of the Shantou Collector's Association, together with other collectors, donated 500 pieces of Qiaopi to the branch.

南国书香节首设粤侨文化展区，在字字血泪中感受家国情怀

8月17日，在2025南国书香节特别推出的“粤侨文化展”展区，多位华侨华人、侨批研究的专家学者共聚“侨批中的家国情怀：烽火传书赤子心”论坛，畅谈“世界记忆遗产”侨批中蕴藏的华侨丹心。

“粤侨文化展”包括精品出版物展和侨批主题展，由暨南大学主办。精品出版物展集中展出广东多家出版单位华侨华人、侨文化相关精品出版物200余种。侨批主题展以纪念中国人民抗日战争暨世界反法西斯战争胜利80周年为主题，展品以“战火家书+历史证物”双线交织为特色，既呈现侨批作为“世界记忆遗产”的文献价值，更凸显粤籍华侨“纸短情长、家国同担”的精神内核。

汕头市侨批文物馆名誉馆长林庆熙根据丰富的潮汕侨批资源，从潮汕华侨、水客、侨批局的视角挖掘潮汕华侨对抗日战争的支持与贡献。例如一份1931年12月21日海外寄汕头的侨批，批封上就盖有“同胞快醒，实用国货”的宣传戳。

梅州市客侨博物馆馆长魏金华介绍了抗战全面爆发后广东侨乡两条重要生命线：香港—沙鱼涌汇路与“驼峰航线”。香港—沙鱼涌汇路在广东侨乡因日军封锁沿海而与海外联系受阻时，以沙鱼涌邮局作为国际邮件转运中心，维持着中国与世界40多个国家的国际邮件互换，成为侨汇进入广东侨乡最为重要的通道之一。

展览将持续至8月19日。活动中，广东省出版单位向广州国家版本馆捐赠参展图书一批、汕头市收藏家协会秘书长柯镇清等收藏家向广州国家版本馆捐赠侨批500份。

文 | 记者 何文涛 朱绍杰
图 | 主办方供图
译丨曾敏
英文审校丨赵凡