Local postal officials are encouraging residents to send more private letters and cards to keep the traditional form of communication alive.

According to the Shanghai Post Bureau, locals received 60 letters each on average this year.

But among those letters, less than 10 percent were private letters and about 17 percent were postcards, the bureau revealed.

"The number lags far behind the 35 private letters an American receives on average each year," said Hu Shiyun, the spokesman for the bureau.

He said writing letters or sending cards to your friends and relatives is a way to let them know you care about them.

"The feeling of receiving such letters can not be substituted by e-mails or cell phone short messages," said Hu.

Nowadays, more and more people like to send their greeting by e-mail or SMS, thinking they are quicker and more convenient.

People are also encouraged to send less cards to save trees. It is said every 100,000 cards will kill 30 trees at age of 10.

But Hu said the cards the post offices offer are all environmentally friendly.

Pu Junrong, 25, an office worker said she still likes to send cards on festivals or when travelling.

"Cards convey my emotion and greeting to the receivers," said Pu. "While other forms can't do so, I think." She sent cards to her parents, boyfriend and good friends this year.

Huang Yi, who works for an advertising company, said she has given up the habit of sending cards or writing letters years ago.

"I will surely feel warm if I receive a written letter from my friend," Huang said.

But she added most of her friends contact her through telephone or online chatting tools.

The bureau has handled 800 million letters so far this year.

(Shanghai Daily December 29, 2004)