Pingtan, an island county off the coast of southeastern China's Fujian Province, has seen a surge in online grocery shopping as the local e-commerce sector flourishes. With just a few taps on their smartphones, residents can now get fresh produce, daily necessities and other items delivered right to their doorsteps, a shift that is reshaping local shopping habits.

Chen Hong, a local resident, praised the convenience of online shopping. "I no longer need to dress up just to buy a bunch of greens," she said. "The quality of the goods I receive is just as good as what I would pick out myself at the wet market." For busy parents like Lin Chenxiaomin, a post-80s mother of three with a husband working away from home, online grocery platforms have been a lifesaver. "Online supermarkets are a blessing for me," she shared. "I no longer have to haul three kids out of the house just to buy a bottle of soy sauce."

Young professionals are also drawn to the efficiency of online shopping. Chen Xiaofang, a post-90s office worker, noted how it saves time. "It's a hassle to buy groceries after work and then go home to cook," she explained. "When I shop online, the groceries arrive just as I get home, saving me half the time."

Responding to the e-commerce trend, many brick-and-mortar convenience stores in Pingtan have expanded to online platforms, adopting an omni-channel business model. A convenience store on Cuiyuan Middle Road, which has been in operation for five years, joined food delivery platforms this summer. "We just started our online business not long ago, and the number of orders is quite good," said Lin Fang, a staff member at the store. The move has broadened its customer base beyond nearby residents. Ding Xiaolong, a delivery rider, has witnessed the growing popularity of online grocery shopping. "Up to 30 percent of my daily orders are for groceries and daily necessities," he revealed.

The e-commerce boom has pushed even small, local stores to go digital. For instance, a convenience store on Cuiyuan Middle Road—a neighborhood fixture for five years—joined food delivery platforms this summer. "We only just went online, but the orders are already coming in at a good pace," said Lin Fang, a staff member at the store. The move has broadened its customer base beyond nearby residents. Ding Xiaolong, a delivery rider, has witnessed the growing popularity of online grocery shopping. "Up to 30 percent of my daily orders are for groceries and daily necessities," he revealed.

This shift from in-person shopping to home delivery has made daily life more convenient for Pingtan residents, offering them more choices without compromising on quality or efficiency.