Cainiao

Cainiao, formally Cainiao Smart Logistics Network Limited, is a Chinese logistics infrastructure and technology company associated with Alibaba Group. It was launched on 28 May 2013 by Alibaba together with eight other companies, initially under the name China Smart Logistics Network. The business was created to coordinate logistics resources and improve the efficiency, visibility, and reach of parcel delivery rather than operate solely as a conventional single-carrier courier. Cainiao's activities cover several connected parts of the parcel ecosystem. These include express delivery, warehouse and fulfillment services, cross-border logistics, shipment coordination, parcel information systems, and neighborhood collection infrastructure. Its model relies on sharing and coordinating resources with other logistics companies, allowing Cainiao to function as a network and technology platform across multiple delivery participants. This positioning links the company closely to Alibaba's commerce ecosystem while also giving it a role in logistics beyond any one online marketplace. In mainland China, one of Cainiao's most visible consumer-facing services is Cainiao Station, or Cainiao Post. These courier collection points are commonly placed in residential neighborhoods and on university campuses. Packages addressed to a participating station can be redirected there for secure storage. Recipients receive notification and use a designated code to identify and collect the parcel, while some locations also accept outgoing shipments. The station model addresses the practical challenge of last-mile delivery in dense communities and helps consolidate deliveries that might otherwise require repeated household visits. Cainiao Express is another branded service. Through the Cainiao application, customers can request collection for parcels and documents. The service can also be used for selected transactions on Xianyu, Alibaba's second-hand marketplace, and for return shipments connected with purchases on Taobao. These consumer interfaces complement Cainiao's broader infrastructure role by connecting end users with shipping, returns, and delivery options. The company has also developed an international logistics role, supporting cross-border movement and delivery coordination. Its stated logistics ambition has included highly rapid delivery within China and the use of technology to connect warehouses, carriers, collection points, and customers. The available reference material does not establish a complete current list of countries, facilities, financial results, or independently verified delivery performance, so those details are not specified here. Cainiao's name combines the Chinese characters for “vegetable” and “bird.” The expression evokes an inexperienced or novice bird and carries a positive association with humility and willingness to learn. In business terms, the name fits the company's emphasis on learning across a network, integrating fragmented logistics resources, and using data and technology to improve operations. By March 2024, Alibaba stated that it held approximately 64 percent of Cainiao and announced a plan to acquire the remaining approximately 36 percent of the shares. That proposal represented a move toward closer ownership integration with Alibaba. The reference material does not confirm the final completion status of that transaction, so Cainiao is described as Alibaba-backed and active rather than assigning a definitive post-transaction ownership structure.

Cainiao was launched on 28 May 2013 by Alibaba Group together with eight other companies. Its original name was China Smart Logistics Network, reflecting the founding concept of building a shared logistics infrastructure rather than creating a narrowly defined parcel carrier. The venture was intended to improve the coordination of China's rapidly expanding e-commerce deliveries by linking logistics companies, warehouses, delivery information, and collection infrastructure. The company developed as a network-oriented logistics provider. Instead of relying only on its own courier fleet, Cainiao shared resources with other logistics companies and used technology to coordinate movement and information across participants. This approach enabled it to support express delivery, warehousing, cross-border logistics, and last-mile services while remaining closely connected to Alibaba's online commerce ecosystem. A major consumer-facing development was Cainiao Station, a network of parcel pickup points in mainland China. Stations were placed in locations such as residential communities and university campuses. When a parcel was routed to a participating station, it could be stored on numbered shelves and collected by the recipient after notification. A four-digit code and self-service scanning process were used to identify and release packages. Some stations also supported outgoing shipments, extending their role beyond passive parcel storage. Cainiao also operates Cainiao Express, through which customers can request pickup of packages and documents using the Cainiao application. The service has been available as a shipping option for certain Xianyu transactions and for return shipments associated with Taobao purchases. These services illustrate Cainiao's combination of logistics infrastructure with consumer-facing digital tools. The company's scope includes cross-border logistics and international delivery coordination in addition to its domestic Chinese activities. Cainiao has promoted rapid delivery and the use of technology to improve logistics efficiency, although the available reference material does not provide a complete, independently verified account of current delivery times, geographic coverage, revenue, or operating scale. In May 2018, reference material identified Cainiao as one of China's largest unicorn companies and associated it with a valuation of 100 billion yuan. Because this is a historical valuation rather than a current financial figure, it is not treated as a present company valuation in this dossier. On 26 March 2024, Alibaba announced that it would acquire the remaining approximately 36 percent of Cainiao's shares. Alibaba was reported to hold approximately 64 percent at the time. The available source does not confirm the final closing of the proposed acquisition. Cainiao therefore remains characterized here as an active Alibaba-backed logistics company, with the ownership transition recorded as a proposed transaction rather than a completed one.

• 2024

  Alibaba proposes full ownership

  [1]Cainiao - Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org

  Alibaba announces a plan to acquire the approximately 36 percent of Cainiao shares it did not already hold.

• 2018

  Cainiao reaches major-unicorn status

  [1]Cainiao - Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org

  Reference material describes Cainiao in May 2018 as one of China's largest unicorn companies, with a reported valuation of 100 billion yuan.

• 2013

  Cainiao is launched

  [1]Cainiao - Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org

  Alibaba Group and eight other companies launch Cainiao on 28 May 2013 under the earlier name China Smart Logistics Network.

Technology-driven smart logistics infrastructure and network coordination

• Last-mile parcel collection

  Cainiao Station

  Cainiao Station is a network of courier pickup points across mainland China, often located in residential neighborhoods and on university campuses. Parcels can be redirected to a station, stored on organized shelves, and collected after recipients receive a notification. Users identify packages with a designated code and complete collection through a scanning process. Some stations also accept outgoing parcels, making them local access points for both delivery and shipment.

• Express delivery

  Cainiao Express

  Cainiao Express is a branded courier service that allows customers to request pickup of packages and documents through the Cainiao application. It can serve as a shipping method for selected Xianyu transactions and supports return shipments associated with Taobao purchases. The offering connects Cainiao's digital logistics interface with physical parcel collection and delivery operations.

• Logistics technology platform

  Cainiao application

  The Cainiao application provides consumer-facing access to selected logistics functions, including shipment pickup requests and delivery-related services. It serves as an interface between customers and Cainiao's broader network of logistics, express, return, and collection operations.

• 2025

  Source 1Source 2

Read more

• 2024

  Alibaba proposes to acquire Cainiao's remaining sharesM&A

  Background

  Alibaba reported holding approximately 64 percent of Cainiao and announced a plan to acquire the remaining approximately 36 percent.

  Action taken

  Alibaba announced a proposed transaction to move toward full ownership of Cainiao.

  Aftermath

  The available reference does not confirm whether the acquisition was completed, so its final ownership consequences remain unverified in this dossier.

  Source

• 2024

  Alibaba announces plan to acquire Cainiao's remaining shares[1]Cainiao - Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org

  M&A

  Alibaba stated on 26 March 2024 that it would seek to acquire the approximately 36 percent of Cainiao that it did not already hold. The announcement followed Alibaba's reported ownership of approximately 64 percent of the logistics company. The available reference does not establish whether the proposed transaction was completed.

1. 1Cainiao - Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Cainiao official websitecainiao.com
3. 3菜鸟简介-菜鸟集团官网cainiao.com
4. 4加入我们-菜鸟集团官网cainiao.com
5. 5菜鸟发布"全球三日达"，跨境电商迈入"72小时达"cainiao.com
6. 6菜鸟驿站对取件未出库罚款100元引争议news.qq.com
7. 7菜鸟驿站对取件未出库罚款100元引争议jsnews.jschina.com.cn
8. 8菜鸟裹裹推出办公室寄快递“智能神器”smartcity.zol.com.cn
9. 9中国快递企业开通绿色通道 助力海外捐赠物资快速落地tech.sina.com.cn