One hundred years of telecommunications service was celebrated on December 28, 1981. To commemorate this historic and auspicious occasion, a set of stamps which features the development of the telecommunications industry in China was released on that day.　　The development of our telecommunications system actually began during the Ching dynasty.Largely through the enthusiastic promotion of Li Hung-chang, Governor-General of Chihli, a telegraph line was constructed between Shanghai and Tientsin.Completed in 1881 this first telegraph system with its main office in Tientsin and branch offices along the route to Shanghai signaled the birth of our telecommunications industry.　　Since its inception, the growth of the telecommunications system has been constant and marked by significant achievements.In recent years progress in technology and operations has been remarkable.