China has become the most active online shopping market in the world, with more than 70 percent of people shopping on social networking platforms, the highest in the Asia Pacific region, a study has found.

According to a report released by international real estate consultancy CBRE, 45 percent of Chinese respondents say they shop online at least once a week.

In China's smaller cities, online shopping has become the most effective channel for retailers to reach consumers.

More than 45 percent of Chinese consumers shop via smartphones, far higher than the Asia Pacific average of 28 percent.

However, despite shopping online quite often, consumers on the Chinese mainland spend the equivalent of $26 to $50 a month shopping online, lower than the monthly average of between $51 to $100 by consumers in South Korea, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, India and Australia.

The report says this lower spend amount suggests Chinese mainland consumers still prefer to buy valuable items from local stores as the quality of goods is not always guaranteed with online stores.

It was added that young people in the 18 to 24 age group are becoming the dominant consumer force, which will have important implications for retail markets throughout the Asia Pacific region in the coming years.