Taobao

Taobao is a Chinese online shopping platform owned by Alibaba Group. It launched in 2003 as a consumer-to-consumer (C2C) marketplace and grew into one of the world’s largest e-commerce platforms, forming a central part of Alibaba’s domestic retail ecosystem. The platform hosts listings from individual sellers, small businesses, and brands, with users browsing categories, searching for products, and viewing seller profiles, ratings, reviews, and buyer protection information. Most listings are bargain-oriented, but it also hosts new products from merchants. Payments are typically processed through Alipay, the Alibaba-affiliated digital wallet, with buyer protections and escrow, while logistics are handled by Alibaba’s Cainiao network, including integrated delivery and tracking.

Taobao’s revenue primarily comes from advertising and marketing services offered to merchants rather than direct seller commissions for most listings. In parallel, Alibaba operates Taobao’s sister platform, Tmall, a business-to-consumer marketplace for brands and larger retailers. The platform is known for its price competitiveness and vast product selection but has faced challenges with counterfeit goods; Alibaba has implemented measures to improve IP protection, seller verification, and consumer dispute resolution. Taobao has played a key role in Singles’ Day shopping events and in shaping e-commerce practices in China, remaining a focal point of Alibaba’s domestic strategy.