Qingtian Imported Commodity City in Lishui, Zhejiang province. [Photo/Tide News]

Over 100 kilograms of European specialty foods have arrived at Shanghai Pudong Airport from Spain and were subsequently transported to the Qingtian Imported Commodity City in Lishui, Zhejiang province, to be sold.

Launched in 2015 on a former wasteland, Qingtian Imported Commodity City capitalizes on the county's extensive overseas Chinese network.

It now covers 90,000 square meters, houses over 100,000 products from more than 70 countries and regions, represents over 2,000 overseas brands, and hosts 268 merchants. From January to May this year, sales reached 917 million yuan ($35.28 million), up 22 percent year-on-year.

The market is shifting from a traditional distribution hub to an open and specialized one, driven by experiential consumption, smart operations, and integrated domestic-foreign trade.

Physical spaces are being upgraded to blend retail with dining, wine cellars, and art exhibitions, turning the site into a comprehensive lifestyle destination.

Digital transformation is being driven by e-commerce parks and a cloud-based procurement platform that enables direct factory sourcing.

Logistics are being streamlined with a new bonded logistics center linking to ports and a shared delivery network, while 119 overseas warehouses run by local expatriates are providing full-chain services for Chinese exports.