Postal authorities in Beijing have come up with a novel solution to China’s soaring divorce rate - love letters sent with a seven year delay. The new service allows couples in the first flush of romance to post a letter their partner will only receive seven years later, the time when relationships often began to cool. Special envelopes containing a card for a personalised message went on sale in Beijing on September 9 - considered an auspicious date because the words "nine, nine" in Chinese sound similar to the word "forever". It remains to be seen how the letters will be received.