E-commerce in China has experienced rapid growth, with over 220 million internet users as of 2008. However, online shopping rates and spending remain relatively low due to obstacles such as payment issues, lack of logistics infrastructure, and lack of consumer trust. While P2P sites like Taobao dominate the market, international players like eBay have struggled, failing to gain significant market share against local competitors that focused more on building consumer trust. Regulations continue to limit foreign involvement in the telecommunications sector.

1. E-Commerce in China Operated by

4. China's Internet Penetration Rate Still Very Low Internet penetration rate in tier 1 provinces: Beijing: 46.6% Shanghai: 45.8% Guangdong: 35.9% Comparison Internet Penetration Rate among Countries

7. Entertaining Role of Internet Is In Front Row 1 st Application used when going online Application Rate 1. Instant message 39.70% 2. Online news 20.00% 3. Others 14.30% 4. Online games 9.30% 5. Search engine 7.40% 6. E-Mail 3.50% 7. Online music 3.40% 8. Online Video 2.40%

16. The Meaning of Colors Meaning Color China Europe Black „ color of death“, darkness, glory, winter, north death, darkness, mourning White mourning, bad luck, age, autumn, west cleanliness, brightness, hygiene, virginity Red Traditionally: joy, good, wealth, bright, summer, south, recently: government, authority danger, forbiddance, war, sexuality Yellow traditionally: emperor, earth, middle and china, recently: pornography caution, envy, avarice, cowardice Blue algid, ill sky, water, reliable, authentic Brown misfortune laziness, old-fashioned Grey cheap, dull elegant Gold glory, royal, wisdom, perfection money, sun, nature, friendliness Green life, vitality, spring, east nature, hope

17. The Meaning of Symbols Meaning Symbol China Europe Magpie 鹊 que joy, fortunate marriage thievery, robbery, defraud Owl 鸮 xiāo disaster, scare, crime wisdom, clever, bright, intelligent Rat 鼠 shǔ wealth, avarice, demonical possession dirt, cloacae, illness Spider 蜘蛛 zhīzhū luck fear, disgust, threat Clock 送終 short life, wish death time Swastika 卐 wàn luck, numerousness, all war, death, terror Fish 鱼 yú wealth, luck Christianity, Jesus Christ Dragon 龙 lóng power, strength, wisdom, luck, emperor power, danger, chaos Bamboo 竹 zhú integrity, pertinacity, conservativeness, long life -

18. The Meaning of Numbers Positive 6 problem-free, promising, smooth 8 fortune, wealth 9 forever, long-lasting Negative 4 sì ( 四 ) sounds almost like death, dying ( 死 ), disaster 10 shì ( 十 ) sounds almost like „4“, therefore death 13 failure, imperfection 14 yao si sounds almost like “going to die”

19. Contact W eb2 A sia Room 2022-2026 No. 1438 Shaanxi Road (North) Shanghai 200060, China Phone: +86 21 32270872 Mobile: +86 159 2100 2780 Fax: +86 21 32270875 E-Mail: [email_address] Web: http://www.web2asia.com