Muslims pray on the first Day of Ramadan in Yinchuan, capital of northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, June 6, 2016. (Photo: Xinhua/Wang Peng)
Online-food ordering (OFO) services in the northwestern city of Urumqi have reported a surge in orders as Muslims observe the holy month of Ramadan.
"Ordering food for 'iftar' [the breaking of the fast] is an attractive option after a day of fasting," Aliyar told Xinhua as he ordered food from a halal OFO service on the instant messenger service WeChat.
According to its founder Shewkret, his service has received up to 70 orders every day since Ramadan began.
"I've built a kitchen exclusively for the OFO service so that I could have more control over food quality and work flexible business hours," he said.
Ma Hongguang, an ethnic Hui Muslim who owns a restaurant that specializes in mutton pilaf, has over 100 online orders every day from his "invisible customers."
Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region is home to more than 13 million Muslims who fast between sunrise and dusk during Ramadan, which ends on July 6 this year.
