Tucked away in the far interior of Eurasia, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region is known for its vast expanses of desert landscapes. Since late August, however, sales of aquatic products hailing from the landlocked region has soared on China’s e-commerce platforms. Also, the hashtag “no free shipping for remote coastal regions” has gone insanely viral among fish retailers. The “disclaimer” mocks a widespread practice among online vendors of not offering free delivery to addresses in Xinjiang and some other remote regions due to the high logistics costs involved. All in all, they suggest a curious inversion of the usual market dynamics.
Despite its frequent associations with deserts and droughts, Xinjiang is in fact a major fishery hub in northwest China with abundant
