Lhasa (TDI): From early morning to evening, parcels traverse thousands of kilometers to reach consumers in Xizang, illustrating the rapid growth of the region’s express delivery industry.
At SF Express’s logistics park near Lhasa, workers quickly sort packages onto destination-specific containers. Orders, such as clothing purchased by local resident Qiang Zhen from Guangzhou over 3,000 kilometers away, reach customers within 72 hours.
China’s express delivery sector has grown explosively, with parcel volumes rising from 83 billion in 2020 to 175 billion in 2024, averaging 20% annual growth. Daily, over 500 million parcels are processed, nearly 6,000 every second, with Xizang emerging as a key growth area.
Qiang recalled the past challenges of online shopping: “Years ago, shipping a 200-yuan ($28) item cost 40–50 yuan, prohibitively expensive.” Recent reductions in delivery fees and free-shipping policies have made online shopping accessible to more residents, People’s Daily reported.
SF Express Tibet branch head Liu Shuxin said annual orders in Xizang rose from roughly 4 million five years ago to 14 million last year, reflecting growing consumer confidence and spending power. In the first half of 2025, the region’s online retail sales reached 18.07 billion yuan, up 38.6% year on year, with physical goods accounting for 86.1% of the total, among the fastest growth rates nationwide.
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To meet rising demand, logistics providers are innovating. Liu noted that combining ground and air transport in a “land + air” model has improved efficiency while cutting costs. Postal authorities encourage companies and e-commerce platforms to establish local and regional warehouses, consolidating shipments to reduce costs and make free delivery feasible.
Residents have noticed marked improvements. Huang Haifen, who relocated from Guangdong to Nyingchi years ago, said packages now arrive in four to seven days, a significant improvement over earlier delays. Shipping costs have dropped dramatically, many items now come with free delivery, while paid shipping typically costs only five or six yuan compared with dozens of yuan in the past.
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This year, Xizang has also focused on extending modern delivery services to rural and pastoral areas. Regional subsidies support postal logistics, helping offset rural shipping costs and ensuring broader access. The long-promised “free shipping to Xizang” is increasingly becoming a reality, signaling a new era for the region’s e-commerce and logistics landscape.
