Last telegram office in Shanghai

In the Telecom Museum, a visitor taps a Morse key which will send Morse code via electromagnetic pulse to the receiver. [Photo/IC]

In this age of instant chats and emails, one 19th century invention is still delivering messages across the globe.

Shanghai, one of the most advanced cities in the world, operates a China Telecom branch where customers can send telegram.

Located near Shanghai Telecom Museum, China Telecom's Yanan road branch delivers nearly 20 telegrams in July, nearly double the average monthly telegrams sent. Most people who send telegrams are those who feel nostalgic or young people who want to try new things. China's telegraph industry peaked in 1988 when 44.97 million telegrams were sent. Telegrams were the fastest and cheapest way to communicate over long distance.

The China Telecom's Yanan road branch is the only place in Shanghai that still provides telegram service.