The rise of Chongqing’s e-commerce, only starting to gain traction in recent years, has captured the attention of investors.

At least half a dozen leading shopping sites in Chongqing have announced major fundraising deals over the past few months. On Tuesday, Alibaba, China’s largest e-commerce firm, said shopping sites in Chongqing have so far raised 1 billion yuan from investors.

The investment surge reflects the changing landscape in Chongqing. Internet access has rapidly expanded, mostly through mobile devices, with Chongqing people increasingly shifting weekly spending habits from in-store to online.

Billboards, text messages and emails bombard people every day with news of unique online-only discounts and special offers. E-commerce is currently growing at a compound annual rate of 34 per cent, according to the Internet and Mobile Association of Chongqing.(CQNEWS)