Title: “Connecting Communities through Small Packages: The Impact of Express Delivery in Guangxi’s Ethnic Regions”
Interview with Tan Xuefei and Mo Kuanwen, October 22, 2023
Nestled in the southern region of China, Guangxi is renowned for its distinct ethnic customs. To understand the significance of express delivery in this rural landscape, we spoke with local residents and officials.
Could you share some insight into the daily express delivery activity in Guangxi’s rural areas?
Every day, approximately 1.7 million packages flow through the region, thanks to a robust express logistics network that fuels communication and economic growth among ethnic communities. The development of this infrastructure has created new opportunities for prosperity.
How has express delivery changed the lives of people in remote areas?
We learned about Wei Fengjie, a villager in Hongyan Village of Longlin County, who runs a local retail shop. He acts as a broker for e-commerce, helping residents with purchasing, selling, and receiving packages. With a few online clicks, items like home appliances and fresh food can be delivered in just three days. Wei remarked, “Life in the village has become much more convenient. What’s available online is now accessible to us.”
What underpins this remarkable transformation in the rural logistics network?
The success of the express delivery service in pre-urban areas hinges on a comprehensive rural road network and effective logistics systems. Over the past decade, Guangxi has significantly expanded its rural roads—adding 7,810 kilometers, a 63.3% increase—with all border towns now connected to upgraded road systems. This expansion means that over 80% of the 120,000 natural villages in Guangxi have access to express delivery services.
Could you elaborate on how express services have evolved from towns to villages?
In Huanjiang Maonan Autonomous County, for example, residents from various ethnic backgrounds previously faced challenges with unreliable delivery services. However, in 2022, the Guangxi Department of Transportation designated this county to pilot the integration of rural passenger and freight postal services. “Now, we have express stations right in the village. Even those who live far away can pick up their packages within 10 minutes,” explained Tan Wenzhuan, the Communist Party branch secretary of Zhongnan Village.
How is the integration of services enhancing the delivery system?
The integration of passenger and freight postal services has strengthened the logistics system. Guangxi currently has eight counties recognized as model regions for this integrated approach, including several ethnic autonomous counties like Huanjiang and Fuchuan.
What does express delivery mean for local agriculture?
Interestingly, express delivery also connects urban consumers with local agricultural products. In Gongcheng Yao Autonomous County, known as the “hometown of the moon persimmon,” the industry has thrived with e-commerce. “In our town, every household grows moon persimmons, and over 10 million fresh fruits and related products are shipped nationwide each year,” shared Xia Zhi Guang, secretary of Lianhua Village.
How has this impacted the income of local farmers?
The growth of the moon persimmon market, boosted by e-commerce logistics, has significantly increased average annual incomes from under 800 yuan to over 22,000 yuan. The demand for fresh, locally sourced food from city dwellers has created a new avenue for income, as village gardens now supply urban markets.
What future developments do you see on the horizon for express delivery and agriculture in Guangxi?
With the continuous improvement of the rural delivery logistics system, Guangxi is fostering new business models such as live-stream e-commerce and community-based commerce. In 2023, parcels containing agricultural products reached nearly 300 million, generating over 21 billion yuan in revenue. As new entrepreneurial avenues, including “express + e-commerce” and “express + live-stream” grow, they are poised to transform the agricultural landscape even further.
