The second edition of the "Ruyi Dongfang Cup" e-commerce livestreaming startup competition kicked off in Rudong, Nantong, Jiangsu province on Dec 29, 2023.

Twenty finalists took the stage, showcasing their signature skills in promoting high-quality agricultural products from Rudong.

Hosting the event for two consecutive years, the city is dedicated to harnessing the power of livestreaming in advancing rural economy.

Zhu Chunlian, the head of the e-commerce team for a family farm in Dayu town, shared his insights from last year's competition, stating that he gained invaluable experience in attracting consumers.

Zhu's enhanced communication skills enabled him to drive sales of Rudong's organic vegetables through livestreaming, resulting in last year's sales exceeding 1.5 million yuan ($209,700).

In addition to this competition, the Rudong bureau of commerce organized 20 specialized training sessions in 2023, inviting industry experts to mentor participants on mastering livestreaming techniques.

Last year, the bureau hosted 12,451 livestreams, marking a 27.8 percent year-on-year increase. These livestreams attracted 97.26 million viewers—an increase of 67.7 percent compared to viewership in 2022. The goods sold via these livestreams amounted to 4.91 million units, generating an online retail revenue of 357.45 million yuan.

Due to Rudong's outstanding achievements in agricultural e-commerce, the county was recognized in 2020 as a national demonstration zone for its comprehensive integration of e-commerce into rural areas.

The 2023 "Ruyi Dongfang Cup" e-commerce livestreaming startup competition is held in Rudong. [Photo/Nantong Daily]

Residents sell vegetables over a livestream. [Photo/Nantong Daily]