Run-up to Lunar New Year sees surge in e-commerce as consumers trawl the cyberspace

Every Spring Festival, Xu Xiaoding, 55, of Ningbo, Zhejiang province, lovingly, painstakingly cooks a fantastic banquet consisting of more than 10 courses for his extended family.

Typically, Xu's preparations would start weeks in advance. The best of vegetables, meat, spices, fruit, drinks and dairy are sourced from numerous local markets.