The online trade volume on taobao.com jumped 109 percent year on year from February 18, the first day of the lunar New Year, to Saturday, and a record single-day volume occurred during the period, the country's No. 1 auction Website said.

EBay China, the subsidiary of the world's No. 1 auction Website, reported it added about 10,000 new registered users. It also reported products listed for sale, especially those with pig features, jumped 20 percent year on year during the period. This year is the Year of the Pig according to the Chinese zodiac.

Declining to reveal detailed sales figures, the Websites would only say that the gifts sold online were food, health care products and consumer electronics.

Some express delivery firms did not close during the week and their availability helped fuel the online sales as buyers have to arrange for the gifts they bought to be delivered to others, taobao.com said.

"We had 200 to 300 people stay at their positions this year for the first time to meet client requirements," said Shanghai-based Funhome Express. Funhome received about 1,500 orders each day during the holiday and charged users five yuan (60 US cents), its regular price.

China Post cooperated with Taobao.com and launched express delivery services nationwide for online traders during the holiday.

China Post's service helped traders to send products to rural areas which may be out of reach for most express delivery firms. Prices start at 10 yuan, half of its normal EMS (express mail service), for the services.

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