The “618” mid-year shopping festival, one of China’s biggest e-commerce events, has driven a sharp rise in cross-border purchases in Beijing. 

According to Beijing Customs, from May 13 to June 16, they processed 802,800 cross-border e-commerce import orders, up 10.98% from the previous year. The total value reached approximately 126 million yuan ($17.52 million), up 23.53% year on year.

E-commerce platforms like JD.com are now offering fast delivery for imported goods. A Beijing resident surnamed Wang recently received a bottle of Australian Cabernet Sauvignon in less than an hour after placing his order. JD Worldwide’s head of supply chain Wu Xue said the order marked a milestone for the platform’s instant delivery service, which enables customers to receive international orders in just hours or, in some cases, minutes.

Through this service model, consumers can check out imported products in offline stores, place orders online, and get them delivered within a few hours, faster than the usual same-day or next-day delivery.

JD has stocked more than 500 types of imported products, including cosmetics, wines, and baby care items, at Beijing Yizhuang Bonded Logistics Center in advance. Once an order is placed, goods go through customs procedures and are then transferred to nearby couriers, significantly reducing delivery time.

Tianzhu Customs, under Beijing Customs, also stepped up preparations ahead of the shopping festival. Officials monitored order flows in real-time and optimized clearance processes to support timely deliveries. From May 13 to June 16, Tianzhu Customs processed over 55-million-yuan worth of beauty and fragrance products, a 38.5% increase from the same period last year.