Online retailers gear up for 'double 11'

There's only two weeks to go before the "double 11" online shopping festival, which falls on Nov 11 every year. In Changxing county, Huzhou city, East China's Zhejiang province, workers at an online retailer are working overtime to prepare parcels and little gifts in advance for the upcoming event.

November 11 is a date made up of four one's, and "double 11" has always been considered a special day for single men and women in China. It has now turned to be the country's busiest day for online retailers, shopping lovers and couriers.

The shopping festival last year was China's largest and ended with two of Alibaba's marketplaces Taobao and Tmall ringing up 35 billion yuan ($5.75 billion) in sales over the 24-hour period.

Workers prepare parcels for the upcoming "double 11" online shopping festival at a plant of an online retailer in Changxing county, Huzhou city, East China's Zhejiang province, Oct 27, 2014.[Photo/IC]