At 8 a.m., as winter mist lingered over the mountains of Fengjie County in Chongqing, villagers had already gathered outside Liu Meirong’s "PDD Station." The moment the rolling shutter lifted, the modest 50-square-meter space buzzed with activity. "Sister Liu, has the Musang King durian I ordered arrived? My kid’s been asking for days," one villager called out, while another checked if a heater plug would fit. Amid the chatter, this remote mountain village began another lively day.

The shelves stacked with parcels are a testament to PDD Holdings Inc’s "100 Billion Support" initiative, which is making e-commerce accessible even in this remote village—400 kilometers and nearly five hours from downtown Chongqing. For locals, the station has become a lifeline, bridging the gap between their secluded lives and the outside world.

▲ Liu Meirong helps villagers locate packages at the PDD Station. (Photo: Li Yuheng)

Just a year old, the station has transformed logistics for this Three Gorges migrant village. Previously, receiving or sending parcels was a hassle—villagers had to wait for infrequent buses to the nearest town, a round trip that could take half a day and cost nearly 10 yuan ($1.40), sometimes more than the items they bought. For elderly residents and children, who make up most of the population, the "last-mile" delivery barrier made online shopping a rarity.

Elder Chen once received expired pastries from his son due to the delay in pickup. "Such a waste of his thoughtfulness," he lamented. Sending local produce like navel oranges or sweet potatoes to urban relatives was even harder, requiring arduous trips to town.

Witnessing these struggles, Liu repurposed half her mobile phone shop into a PDD Station in September 2024. "PDD provided one-on-one guidance and earnings per parcel, unlike other platforms," she said. The station accepts packages from all e-commerce platforms, with daily pickups and drop-offs by courier trucks.

Now, villagers enjoy everything from niche hardware to fresh groceries. One renovator praised the convenience of buying tiles online, while Li Shiju received vacuum-packed lamb from Qinghai—still frozen after a 2,000-km journey. "No gamey taste, just freshness," she marveled. Chen Qiang, who received plump red dates from Xinjiang, contrasted the ease of online shopping with the old days of uncertain market stalls or exhausting trips to county stores.

PDD’s initiative has boosted product variety by 51% year-over-year, integrating western villages into the national market. The station also empowers local farmers. Fengjie, famed for its navel oranges, now sees growers like Yu Guiying ship produce effortlessly. "Before, we risked spoilage hauling fruit to town. Now, it’s picked, packed, and shipped the same day," she said, selling 10,000 jin (5,000 kg) of plums in a month at better prices.

The station handles 100+ parcels daily, peaking at 200 during holidays. Liu, now the village’s trusted "hub," also revives her phone business as villagers browse new models during visits. Beyond commerce, the station syncs the village’s rhythm with urban life, proving that even the remotest areas can thrive with the right support.