AS more and more people look to their handsets and tablets for the latest news and gossip from around the world, the operators of Shanghai’s iconic red newsstands are finding it increasingly difficult to eke out a living.

Li Ping has been running a stand on Longcao Road since 2003, but fears she might not be doing so for much longer.

“Business was quite good at first, when people still read newspapers and magazines,” the 55-year-old said.