Staff members at an express delivery company in Guangzhou, south China's Guangdong province, are busy arranging the packages on Monday, November 11, 2013. (Photo: Xinhua/Liang Xu)
It is expected that China's rapidly-expanding express delivery services will move 20 billion packages this year.
With nearly a month to go, couriers in China have already started to prepare for the massive number of order they are expected to take during the Double 11 shopping frenzy.
China's State Post Bureau predicts the "special day" this year will generate more than 500 million packages from e-commerce companies during the promotion period, up 5 percent from last year.
Ma Junsheng, Director of China's State Post Bureau, urges courier firms to upgrade services, and expand services into far reaching areas.
"Internet plus delivery services is the direction. Delivery and postal services should integrate with the Internet through online platforms and IT technology, so to grow the market and expand services. By 2020, we aim to complete the upgrade of delivery services into rural areas, and provide better, greener and more efficient services to all people."
The notion of Internet Plus was proposed by Chinese premier Li Keqiang.
It stresses the integration of the Internet and traditional industries through online platforms and IT technology, to help economic restructuring.
Ma Junsheng from the State Post Bureau says as the express delivery grows rapidly, certain regulations on the vehicles and motor tricycles used by courier services are also necessary.
"The latest document includes standards in two aspects. First is the vehicle standard, which regulates both commutes and temporary parking of these vehicles in the city. Second, a national standard for motor tricycles in delivery services is currently under study and will come out soon to solve practical problems."
Express delivery has now become a pillar of the e-commerce industry, and is becoming increasingly important for Chinese economic development because of its fast-paced growth.
Authorities estimate that the number of deliveries could reach 20 billion by the end of the year.
According to a China Daily report, express delivery companies in the country have already overtaken their US counterparts in terms of total deliveries annually, making China the "express delivery capital" of the world.
