China's online retail sales registered steady growth in the first quarter of 2017. According to official data, online retail volume measured 1.4 trillion RMB ($200 billion) from January to March, a 32.1 percent year-on-year increase, the Ministry of Commerce stated.

Driven by the holidays, online tourism consumption, dining and entertainment services continued to increase, with the figures spent on travel and food delivery rising by 64 and 163 percent respectively.

Chinese consumers also spent a lot on high-end and smart products such as upscale clothing, smart glasses and sensor-controlled vehicles. Over 65 percent of online consumers were born in the '80s or '90s generation, data shows.

Central and western regions of the country reported stronger growth in online spending. Online consumers in third- and fourth-tier cities and rural areas outperformed their counterparts in first- and second-tier cities.