"For people living on the Pamir Plateau, diverse and reasonably priced commodities are now only one click away," said Li, revealing a sense of pride.

E-commerce has become an indispensable part of the lives of many Chinese. With 569 million online shoppers, China saw its online retail sales shoot up to $594 billion during the first half of 2018.

"We provide the same services here as coastal regions, such as returning and exchanging products," Li said.

"It is now a world of difference from what I saw before," said Ning Yingjie, who came to Taxkorgan in 1985 among the first group of incoming adventurers following the implementation of reform and opening-up policies.