China’s rural economy

Rural Taobao partner Luo Rong eats lunch with his parents at their home in Yufeng village.

Rural Taobao partner Luo Rong eats lunch with his parents at their home in Yufeng village.

(Julie Makinen / Los Angeles Times)

April 1, 2016 7:52 PM PT

Rural Taobao

Fields in Yufeng village.

(Julie Makinen / Los Angeles Times)

Rural Taobao

A view from the mountaintop village of Yufeng, which got a Rural Taobao service center last year.

(Julie Makinen / Los Angeles Times)

Rural Taobao

An exterior view of the Rural Taobao service center in Yufeng village. It opened in November.

(Julie Makinen / Los Angeles Times)

Rural Taobao

Qiu Chuan helps his mother with some honeycombs in the village of Baiguo.

(Julie Makinen / Los Angeles Times)

Rural Taobao

Qiu Chuan started selling his family’s honey online two years ago.

(Julie Makinen / Los Angeles Times)

Rural Taobao

Qiu Chuan, 28, is a Rural Taobao partner in the village of Baiguo, or 100 Fruits. He has plastered his personal van with Rural Taobao logos. He uses the van to pick up produce from his farmer neighbors, which he is selling online.

(Julie Makinen / Los Angeles Times)

Rural Taobao

Luo Rong helps a neighbor search online for a television to buy at his Rural Taobao service center.

(Julie Makinen / Los Angeles Times)

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