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On Friday, Liu Yang ordered a luxury cosmetics set on a Turkish online store and sent it to his hometown in Bayannur City, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region.
Liu, who works for a Chinese communications company in Turkey, said the gift was to let his mother know that he missed her.
"I've been working in Turkey for a few years and have missed out on celebrating Mother's Day with my mom," Liu said.
Working away from home may take many young Chinese away from their families, but the Internet is helping to narrow the distance.
Like Liu Yang, Beijing-based lawyer Zhang Shiyun bought a special gift online for her mother on Mother's Day, which Americans celebrate on Sunday.
After the purchase, Zhang left a voice message on popular instant messaging service WeChat.
"Mom, even though I am not home, I'm with you," Zhang said.
According to a nationwide survey that allows people aged between 15 and 34 to score their filial affection, 23 percent of respondents gave themselves a mere five out of 10 points.
"Many young people realize that they have grown apart from their families as they work or live far away from home," said Wei Gang, a psychologist in Inner Mongolia.
However, the Internet offers a way to rekindle family connections, Wei said.
"The Internet makes it much easier to reconnect, and what better timing to do it than on Mother's Day?" Wei added.
Personalized gifts, like cups or T-shirts that have pictures on, are popular.
"Just imagine the surprise on my mom's face," giggled Zhang Yajuan, who just ordered a cup online for her mother that had her smiling face printed on it. Zhang works in Inner Mongolia while her family live in east China's Jiangxi Province.
"When my mom sees the cup, she will see me smile," Zhang said, "and that is good enough."
