The first thing Zhang Ning, an office worker in Shanghai, does each day is check her social networking app WeChat and the weather app on her cellphone.

She takes her iPhone everywhere and said she feels anxious without it. Like most young Chinese, cellphone apps have become an essential part of her lifestyle due to their convenience.

"Whatever you need, you just touch your device, and you get what you want," said Zhang, 28, sustainability consulting director with Yemann Architects in Shanghai.