3 July 2016, 12:52 GMT
On September 5 the Russian Export Center and China's Alibaba Corporation launched the "National Russian Pavilion" on Tmall, one of China's largest internet marketplaces. The new section of the website allows Chinese consumers to order Russian goods directly over the internet.
To mark China's Mid-Autumn Festival, a harvest festival which this year falls on February 15, Sputnik China decided to check out the Russian Pavilion, and used it to buy presents for the team.
"The National Russian Pavilion presents a variety of non-alcoholic drinks, toys, cosmetics, electronics and even trips to Russia – to Saint Petersburg and Lake Baikal. Nevertheless, the majority of the goods are food products, particularly Russian chocolate and oatmeal," Sputnik China reported.
Choosing what to buy
© Sputnik
Russian chocolate with ginger and orange
© Sputnik
The team found it relatively easy to order the goods online, and plumped for some ordinary gifts: 20 of Russia's finest chocolate bars, one pack of coffee and two tubs of hand cream, which altogether cost around 350 yuan ($55).
Choosing the presents, putting them in the basket and paying for them via Alipay took the team around two minutes. Delivery took around three days, arriving just in time for the Mid-Autumn celebration.
The Sputnik China office eagerly opened their presents.
Taking delivery of the presents
© Sputnik
The Sputnik China office were delighted to receive their coffee, chocolate and hand cream from Russia
© Sputnik
"Like every product in China, the delivery was well-packed, in a small cardboard box. We are happy with our purchases, their price, quality and the speed of delivery. Of course, we would like to see a wider range of goods, but that is obviously a matter of time. We'll have a cup of aromatic coffee and orange chocolate while we're waiting," The Sputnik China team concluded.
