E-commerce fights its way to old Silk Road depot on Pamirs

"For people living on the Pamir Plateau, diverse and reasonably priced commodities are now only one click away," said Li, revealing a sense of pride.

E-commerce has become an indispensable part of the lives of many Chinese. With 569 million online shoppers, China saw its online retail sales shoot up to $594 billion during the first half of 2018.

"We provide the same services here as coastal regions, such as returning and exchanging products," Li said.

"It is now a world of difference from what I saw before," said Ning Yingjie, who came to Taxkorgan in 1985 among the first group of incoming adventurers following the implementation of reform and opening-up policies.