Tonglu, Hangzhou, Zhejiang: "The Return of Express Delivery" Makes the Countryside "Alive"

"Now it's really convenient. With a express delivery station in the village, you can send and pick up packages just a few steps away." A few days ago, Old Pan, who lives in Xinhe Village, Xinhe Township, Tonglu, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China, successfully sent his handmade Suo Mian (a kind of thin noodles) through express delivery to the customer in the village express delivery station; he really enjoys the convenience.

Nowadays, similar events can be found in every village in Tonglu County. The end of receiving and sending packages extends from the township level to the village level, therefore, people can now receive and send packages without leaving the village, realizing their dreams of "having express delivery service in the village".

Village express delivery station [Photo by He Xiaohua]

How to ensure the "last kilometer" delivery into villages used to be a common issue facing by both enterprises and the government. In order to solve difficulties, Tonglu County launched a government-led, end-to-end co-delivery cooperation model. A number of private express delivery companies jointly invested in shares, formed an operating team, clarified the company 's operation model, co-delivery network, village-level station management, etc., and hired professional managers. The team of managers is responsible for advancing the full coverage and overall operation of the "express delivery station" adapting to local conditions, aiming to build a three-level co-delivery network system of counties, townships, and villages.

"The establishment of 'express delivery station' not only helps the villagers to send and pick up packages, but also promotes the 'going out' of Xinhe agricultural local products." Ye Xin, the member of the CPC Xinhe Township Committee has showed that there are many local products like Suo Mian, tea leaves, and Chinese torreya in Xinhe Township, and for this year, the "express delivery station" has been used to help the sales of agricultural products like Suo Mian and tea leaves, reaching more than 5.6 million yuan. It has helped farmers increase their incomes, broadened the way for rural economic development, and promoted rural revitalization.

Up to now, 181 administrative villages in Tonglu County have achieved full coverage of express delivery, with a accumulated total of more than 900,000 express delivery items, and the delivery rate of express delivery has reached 100%. With more measures to improve the rural logistics system, villagers will be able to live a happier life. (Text by He Xiaohua)