4.52 billion yuan spent on Singles Day in Hohhot

Shoppers in Hohhot, North China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region, spent a record 4.52 billion yuan ($680 million) during this year's Singles Day on Nov 11 –– the world's biggest one-day online shopping festival. 

The figure represents an impressive 14 percent increase on last year's sales total. And the city broke last year's record shortly after 5 pm on Nov 11.

Transactions in Hohhot continued to rank No 1 among cities in Inner Mongolia autonomous region.

Alibaba's Singles Day sales hit new record of 168.2 billion yuan ($25 billion). [Photo/Xinhua]

Nov 11 was first promoted by China's largest online retailer Alibaba in 2009 and has developed into an annual e-commerce spending spree. The shopping bonanza draws in a large number of bargain hunters, especially women, as companies will offer steep discounts for a range of products during the cybershopping event.

According to statistics released by Taobao, most of the orders in Hohhot this year were placed by females, representing 63 percent of the total. 

Winter clothing and shoes proved to be the most popular items purchased by the city's shoppers. 

"The price of winter clothing online is much cheaper," said a local woman, who ordered down jackets and coats from a Taobao shop.  

Meanwhile, cellphones, local specialties like rice and sea cucumbers, and bathroom accessories are also highly popular. 

Local companies in the city have also used the opportunity to expand the size of their markets. They experienced a surge in sales of dried meat, scarfs, nuts and knitwear produced in Hohhot. 

A customer in Hohhot, North China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region, receives his parcel just eight hours after placing his order online on Nov 11. [Photo/hhhtnews]