China's rural e-commerce logistics index hits five-year-high in October

China's rural e-commerce logistics index rose to a five-year-high in October, growing 2.8 points from the previous month to 132.2, according to data released Monday by the China Federation of Logistics and Purchasing (CFLP).

Steadily improved logistics infrastructure in the rural parts of the country has greatly boosted e-commerce in the countryside, enabling farmers to sell their seasonal products to consumers around the country.

Farmer Sun Dayong in central China's Henan Province is making a good profit selling local agricultural products via livestream e-commerce. His success is closely linked to Henan's efficient three-tier rural logistics network, which sets up a logistics service spot in every village, connected by township-level logistics stations and then county-level logistics hubs. A tiered pricing system for shipping is also introduced, offering discounted fees based on order volume. These conveniences have prompted Sun to establish his own e-commerce company right inside his village. He is also helping neighbors to get into the business of selling products from their farms online.

"We now have more than 150 people engaging in this. I taught them how to shoot videos on Douyin (Chinese livestreaming/short video platform). They all have their own accounts now and are capable of selling their products on this platform," Sun said.

Data shows that all regions across the country have moved up on the logistics index, a sign of emerging "new farmers" like Sun becoming a nationwide phenomenon, driving rural e-commerce forward.

"As e-commerce continues to grow and rural logistics infrastructure improves, the logistics demand in rural areas is increasing, especially in the two-way flow of agricultural products and industrial goods. Rural e-commerce logistics has become a new engine driving urban-rural consumption," said Li Guo, director of the Department of Management Science and Logistics at Beijing Institute of Technology's School of Management and Economics.

China's rural e-commerce logistics index hits five-year-high in October

More than 20 films will hit Chinese screens during the three-day Qingming Festival holiday from Saturday to Monday, spanning genres from revolutionary historical dramas, realism movies to suspense thrillers, according to the China Film Administration on Thursday.

Revolutionary historical films such as Blood-Spattered Cliff, Eight Sons, Eight Soldiers, and Half Of The Quilt, will pay tribute to martyrs through the lens.

Three films -- It's OK, Now I Met Her, and Sunshine Women's Choir -- tell moving stories of love, growth, and reconciliation.

It's OK is a contemporary family comedy that follows a mother and daughter navigating their joyful yet turbulent relationship. Now I Met Her tells a rebellious teenager who gets to know his late mother through her old diary. Sunshine Women's Choir, a film from the Taiwan region of China, portrays the "perfect" maternal love of "imperfect mothers."

The suspense film Game of Identity tells the story of two people from different backgrounds who accidentally swap lives, setting off an unexpected adventure. The documentary films Seeking Nature: The Code of Life, and Missions to the Moon (Part One) explore the connection between humanity and science.

Imported films from different countries, including The Super Mario Bros. Movie 2, Project Hail Mary, and Hoppers, will deliver spectacular cinematic experiences to audiences.

The Qingming Festival, or Tomb-Sweeping Day, falls on April 5 this year. It is a traditional Chinese festival for honoring the deceased and paying tribute to ancestors. The holiday also provides a short break for Chinese citizens as they engage in outdoor activities and sightseeing.

Over 20 films expected to hit Chinese screens during Qingming Festival Holiday