E-commerce is helping farmers in the Aksu Prefecture in the landlocked region of Xinjiang in northwest China to overcome geographical obstacles and sell their produce to consumers across the country.
As the westernmost region of China bordering Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, Xinjiang is thousands of kilometers away from the eastern markets, a despairing distance for local fruit farmers.
"Our apples [used to] make it to domestic markets through traditional ways. The problem is that they have to be picked before they're ripe because of the long transport time," said Zhou Hu, owner of Aksu Qiguo E-commerce.
Zhou runs a company that sells fruits purchased from local farmers to online consumers in live-streaming shows.
"Previously, it might take five to seven days for the apples to arrive. Now with e-commerce, it takes two to three days," Zhou said.
As the business thrives, Zhou has helped raise the income of local farmers.
"We offer farmers 20 percent more of the total price than traditional buyers. That has a direct impact on farmers," Zhou said.
Seizing the opportunity brought about by e-commerce development, Rizwan Guli Erkin opened a store named Ga Beng Cui Dry Fruit Store on Douyin, the Chinese version of TikTok, to help her parents sell paper shell walnuts.
"The walnuts are grown by my parents. They only know how to grow them but don't know how to sell. So after college I've helped them with sales," she said.
Another one who has spotted this opportunity and returned home to build local businesses is Zheng Haozhe, CEO of the Future Village, an accommodation business in Onsu County of Aksu.
"I went to the U.S. when I was 14. I started from the ninth grade in high school. The U.S. has given me a very good education, but now, I feel very grateful to come back to my country and keep building my country, especially in a border area in the western area where things are not very developed," Zheng said.
E-commerce helps Xinjiang farmers reach markets across China
The 12th National Traditional Games of Ethnic Minorities of China opened on Friday night in Sanya, a coastal city of Hainan Province.
Wang Huning, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, officially declared the Games open.
Nearly 7,000 athletes representing 35 delegations across China will compete in 18 sports and 170 demonstration sports during the nine-day event, which will conclude on November 30.
All equestrian competitions have already been held in July in Zhaosu of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.
As the 35 delegations entered the stadium, they were accompanied by brief performances highlighting distinctive local and ethnic characteristics. These displays set the stage for an opening ceremony celebrating the rich cultures of China's 56 ethnic groups.
Before the opening ceremony, Wang met with all members of the Games' organizing committee, representatives from various delegations, and athlete representatives.
Wang encouraged them to stay united and forge ahead, strengthening the sense of community for the Chinese nation and carrying forward China’s fine traditional culture.
He also visited the exhibitions on China's ethnic minority traditional sports culture, Hainan's comprehensive reform and opening-up efforts, and the achievements in building a free trade port with Chinese characteristics.
The event was first held in 1953, when nearly 400 athletes from 13 ethnic groups competed in Tianjin's inaugural edition. 29 years later, the 2nd edition was held in Hohhot, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region.
The coconut tree climbing race, a newly added event in this year's games, originates from the traditional labor of local ethnic communities, who climb trees to harvest coconuts on the tropical island. Combining rich entertainment with competitiveness, this sport is to debut in the Games.
The tournament aims to foster harmony and cultural integration among China's 56 ethnic groups.
China's 12th National Traditional Games of Ethnic Minorities opens in Hainan
