China has a postal history of over 3,000 years. However, most of the ancient posthouses where couriers changed horses, made use of boats or simply rested have disappeared over the years.
The Yucheng posthouse was discovered in 1985 in the southern part of Gaoyou City. Built in 1375, it鈥檚 recognized as being one of the most significant of such buildings along the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal.
In its day the posthouse had over 100 parlors, 65 horses, 18 boats and more than 200 horsemen and boatmen.
Today all that remains of the posthouse鈥檚 former glories are lounges, a sale, rear halls, an arch, residential houses of posthouse officers, a jail and a drinking trough for horses. Other structures like screen walls, a drum and bell tower, storehouses and stables have vanished -- given up to the steady march of time.
It鈥檚 rare to see the remains of such a large post house in modern China. Experts agree that Yucheng posthouse is helpful to their research into the development of post offices and transport by water and land.
Plans have been made by Gaoyou City鈥檚 cultural and urban planning departments to ensure that the posthouse is properly protected.
