Chongqing - On May 8, the 2026 Chongqing 618 E-Commerce Carnival kicked off at Guanyinqiao pedestrian street. China’s “618” shopping season offers a snapshot of consumer trends and digital retail innovation, with the launch featuring live product demos, online promotions, and AI-powered experiences.

On May 8, the 2026 Chongqing 618 E-Commerce Carnival officially kicked off at the Guanyinqiao pedestrian street in Chongqing. (Photo/Chongqing Municipal Commission of Commerce)

The event attracted large crowds of residents and tourists, who gathered around numerous exhibition booths offering local specialties such as hot pot seasonings and Youyou Foods products, as well as imported items including jasmine rice from Thailand and Cambodia, durian pastries from Vietnam, and Vietnamese kopi luwak coffee.

Consumers purchase durians imported from Thailand. (Photo/Zheng Ran)

Employees from Chongqing Chongliang Health Industry Company stressed the authenticity of its imported products, saying its Thai and Cambodian jasmine rice is priced at 98 yuan (about 14.4 U.S. dollars) per bag, with packaging codes starting with “8” used as proof of genuine imports. 

The event also featured live-streaming hosts offering real-time discounts, promotions, and giveaways, bridging offline shoppers with online audiences.

Chongqing Chongliang Health Industry Company showcases premium jasmine rice imported from Thailand and Cambodia. (Photo/Zheng Ran)

A central component of the carnival is the promotion of the "Yupin Yunji" public e-commerce brand, launched in 2024 by the Chongqing Municipal Commission of Commerce. The brand consolidates local time-honored brands, intangible cultural heritage products, emerging consumer goods, and specialty agricultural items. 

E-commerce professionals, known as "Mountain City Recommenders," act as ambassadors, promoting Chongqing products nationwide. The program now includes over 100 influencers with a combined online following of more than 1 billion.

A visitor samples durian pastries imported from Vietnam. (Photo/Zheng Ran)

A live-stream host from Youyou Foods promotes products online. (Photo/Zheng Ran)

The event also announced multiple consumer-friendly policies, as eight major platforms—Douyin, Tencent, Meituan, Xiaohongshu, Dewu, Vipshop, Alipay, and Dongchedi—launched promotions including subsidies and instant discounts to boost online and offline spending.

Corporate participants such as JD MALL, Tesla (Chongqing), Chongqing Rural Commercial Bank, and SF Express introduced additional benefits, including price reductions on electronics, preferential auto financing, tourism packages, and streamlined logistics services.

The carnival’s thematic exhibition showcased AI-enhanced consumer experiences across four zones, including live-streaming e-commerce and future lifestyle. Companies such as Fmart Technology, Changan Automobile, Bolaa, SF Express, and other retail and cultural firms presented interactive demos, with attendees experiencing smart devices, autonomous delivery services, and AI-powered product showcases.

Running through June, the carnival will include seven thematic events and more than 400 localized promotions. Organizers expect to generate over 300 million yuan in social discounts, aiming to shift Chongqing's e-commerce from scale-focused growth to value-driven development.

Li Xunfu, deputy director of Chongqing Municipal Commission of Commerce, called the event a concentrated showcase of Chongqing products and a fully integrated digital consumption experience, highlighting the role of influencers, technology, and coordinated platform support in advancing Chongqing's e-commerce ecosystem.