Life in Mainland China
Online shopping and parcels: a Chinese conversation with pinyin
Taobao, Tmall, JD and Pinduoduo sell by app, Double 11 began in 2009, and China handled about 199 billion express parcels in 2025.
Play: Online shopping and parcelsThe conversation
Speakers: Yichen and Xiuying.
- Yichen
你这门口怎么堆了十一个快递箱?
Why do you have eleven delivery boxes piled up outside your door?
- Xiuying
十一月中旬嘛,别用那种眼神看着我。
It's mid-November, so stop looking at me like that.
- Yichen
双十一。你知道这最早只是个玩笑吧?
Singles' Day. You know that started as a joke, right?
- Yichen
九十年代在大学校园里兴起的。十一月十一号对学生来说是什么日子?
It started on college campuses in the nineties. What did November 11th mean to students back then?
- 光棍节,因为日期有四个一 Singles' Day, because the date has four ones
- 期末考试成绩公布日 Final exam results release day
- 北方正式入冬的第一天 The first official day of winter in the north
Answer
光棍节,因为日期有四个一 Singles' Day, because the date has four ones
- Xiuying
光棍节嘛!日期里有四个一。然后到了2009年,第一场大促销就来了。
Singles' Day! The date has four ones. Then in 2009, the first big sale happened.
- Yichen
大约27家店铺,成交额5000万元。
About 27 shops and 50 million yuan in sales.
- Xiuying
结果到了2025年,全国处理的快递包裹都快到1990亿件了。
And by 2025, delivery volumes nationwide hit almost 190 billion parcels.
- Yichen
看这架势,大半都是你贡献的吧。
Judging by this pile, you must've contributed a good chunk of that.
- Xiuying
我昨晚看直播呢,主播一展示那条毯子,我顺手就点进去买了。
I was watching a livestream last night, and as soon as the host showed that blanket, I just tapped and bought it.
- Yichen
直播带货真厉害,你连直播间都没出吧?
Livestream shopping is crazy. You didn't even leave the stream, did you?
- Xiuying
我现在也是有两条毯子的人了。
Well, now I'm the proud owner of two blankets.
- Yichen
你的取件码呢?剩下的肯定都在驿站放着呢。
Where are your pickup codes? The rest of them are definitely still sitting at the collection point.
- Xiuying
菜鸟驿站或者智能快递柜,收到短信输个密码就行。
Cainiao Post or a smart locker—just get the text and punch in the code.
- Yichen
走吧,我帮你搬上去。但说好不准再买第三条了啊。
Come on, I'll help you carry them up. But you promised, no buying a third one.
Words in the conversation
Notes
The main platforms
Taobao and Tmall belong to Alibaba. JD.com runs its own warehouses and couriers. Pinduoduo is known for group buying and low prices.
Where 11.11 comes from
Double 11 (Shuang Shiyi, 11.11) began as a campus joke from the 1990s. The date has four ones, so 11 November was Singles' Day among students.
The first sale
Alibaba held the first 11.11 sale in 2009 to promote Taobao Mall, later renamed Tmall. It offered 50% off with free shipping nationwide. About 27 merchants took part (sources give 25 to 27) and about 50 million yuan of goods sold.
Live-stream selling
Zhibo daihuo is selling on live video. A host shows the goods, and viewers tap a link and buy without leaving the stream. It runs on Taobao Live, Douyin, Kuaishou and WeChat Channels.
Parcels in 2025
The State Post Bureau counted about 199 billion express parcels (kuaidi) in 2025, up 13.7%, with express revenue of 1.5 trillion yuan.
Milestones
The 100 billionth parcel of 2025 passed on 9 July, 35 days earlier than in 2024. The 150 billion mark passed by 11 October.
Pickup stations
Parcels often go to a neighbourhood station (Cainiao Station is Alibaba's network) or a locker. A pickup code arrives by text, and you type or scan it to collect.
Online shopping and parcels
Taobao, Tmall, JD and Pinduoduo sell by app, Double 11 began in 2009, and China handled about 199 billion express parcels in 2025.
In which year was the first Alibaba Double 11 sale?
Answer
2009. Alibaba used it to promote Taobao Mall.
Taobao Mall was later renamed:
Answer
Tmall. Tmall is Alibaba's brand-store platform.
About how many merchants joined the first 11.11?
Answer
27. Quartz cites 27; some sources say about 25.
Express parcels in China in 2025 numbered about:
Answer
199 billion. State Post Bureau figures, January 2026.
Zhibo daihuo is:
Answer
Selling on live video. Viewers buy from a link without leaving the stream.
Pinduoduo is best known for:
Answer
Group buying and low prices. Groups of buyers unlock a lower price.
Where does a pickup code usually get used?
Answer
A station or locker. The code arrives by text and releases your parcel.