In 200 BC, the Han Dynasty of China implemented an extensive postal relay system known as Yì Zhàn, which utilized a network of relay stations to facilitate rapid communication across the empire. This innovative system allowed for the swift transmission of imperial edicts and military orders, covering distances of up to 400 kilometers per day. The establishment of such a sophisticated communication network not only strengthened central authority but also enhanced administrative efficiency and cohesion within the vast empire.

The speed of imperial command over vast distances became a poetic theme in Chinese court verse; the loneliness of frontier postal stations inspired an entire subgenre of Tang dynasty poetry about soldiers and officials far from home. Poets like Wang Wei captured the emotional landscape of separation and duty, reflecting on the human experience of distance.