Taobao,China’s largest and most influential online shopping platform, has passed a few milestones lately, and now it’s reached another. On May 10, the website that introduced online shopping to China’s burgeoning consumer class turned 10 years old.
Since itsdebut in 2003, Taobao has been a force in China’s Internet economy and society, helping to drive the creation of tens ofthousands of new online and offline businesses and millions ofnew jobs. Taobao’s parent company Alibaba Group—which The Economist magazine recently dubbed “The World’s Greatest Bazaar”—marked thepassage of thegroundbreaking website’s first decade on the evening of May 10 with a giant partyat Yellow Dragon Stadium in Hangzhou, China.
More than 20,000 Alibaba Group employees and thousands of guests attended the event, whichincluded a lot of singing and dancing, as well as closing remarksfrom Alibaba Group executive chairman and outgoing CEO Jack Ma, whostepped down from day-to-day operations.China sure knows how to put on a show. Watch a video of the event below.
Those whodon’t live in China may be wondering what the big deal is. To offer some perspective onthe impact of Taobao Marketplace and it’s sister site, Tmall, on China’s economy, Internet and consumer culture, we’ve assembled thismultimedia package.Scroll down for videos, stories and other content about the Taobao phenomenon.
How AlibabaGotChinese Consumers to Shop Online. Watch a ReutersReports video on thefactors that led to an e-commerce revolution.
Watch the video below to see what ordinary Chinese have to say about online shopping and e-commerce. (Click here to watch in China)
Talking the Taobao Talk. To shop on Taobao, it helps to know the special language that has evolvedto ease digital negotiations between millions of aggressive sellers and wary buyers. Read the story.
Attack of the Taodolls. What started as a promotion featuring asmall plasticdoll of theTaobao mascotbecame a collectibles mania. Read the story and watch the video below.
Gobs of Jobs. The growth of e-shopping has given rise to a new service industry and created millions of new jobs. Click here to read aboutTaobao fashion models and other “orange-collar workers.”
What Kind of Online Shopper Are You? A full range of consumer behaviors and pathologies are on display on Taobao Marketplace. Click here to see an infographic on the 12 types of Taobao Shoppers.
On the Road Again. Being a delivery driver in China has drawbacks. The hours are long and sometimes they make you ride a tricycle. Watch a video about China’s package couriers, part of the Taobao e-commerce ecosystem. (Click here to watch in China)
The Internetis helpingfarmers inremote Chinese villages earn more by selling direct to the public. Read the story and watch the video below.
Passing the Torch. In this Taobao promotional video, a Chinese youth learns what it means to give back by teaching his tech-challenged father to shop online. (Click here to watch in China)
