This Day, That Year

Item from Nov 15, 1992, in China Daily: Self-service shopping, a concept in the West that shoppers pick what they want directly from shelves, is gaining in popularity.

Technology is bringing tremendous changes to people's shopping experience in China. Not only is e-commerce a growing trend, but unmanned supermarkets are appearing.

In these stores shoppers scan a QR code using their smartphones to open the store door, and pick up their snacks and drinks before scanning them in the product-identification area. Payment is made via a QR code that pops up on the screen to complete the transaction. Then the door opens to let the customers out.