Students wait in a long queue to get their parcels at the Peking University. [Photo from Sina Weibo]

The business has received support of some experts. "With this experience, university students can get some practical knowledge about starting their own businesses in the e-commerce era," said Jin Xiaohong, associate professor from School of Sociology at Central China Normal University.

Jin added that this business can avoid waste of resources just like ride-hailing giants Didi Chuxing and Uber pooled in their resources. Why not earn some extra money by picking up someone's parcels on your way to the dormitory," he asked.

However, some students expressed concern. "I think time out values money," said Li Rong from Communication University of China, who said she would not try this time-consuming job. Li used to spend nearly an hour taking someone's parcels to his or her bedroom by accompanying her friend who did the job.

Besides the parcel business some students also pay their classmates to bring them fruits and meals to their dormitories, and even attend classes for them.

Jin Xiaohong said: "It's wrong for students to pay others to attend classes as that violates the university rules."