BEIJING — New e-commerce business models remained vibrant in China in the first half of 2022 despite the impact of COVID-19.

Over 60 million livestreaming promotions were held on e-commerce platforms closely tracked by the Ministry of Commerce over the last six months, the ministry told a press conference on July 21.

These livestreaming promotions, covering more than 47.5 million products, attracted over 517 billion online visits.

The booming number of e-commerce livestreaming promotions contributed to the recovery of the country's online retail sales, which increased 3.1 percent year-on-year during the January-June period.

Ministry data also shows the popularity of outdoor activities, with online sales of camping products soared during the period. Sales of camping canopies climbed over 330 percent year-on-year, and sales of portable tables, chairs and beds rose over 123 percent.