The Purpose of Creating the Blog
Hi, guys, I’m Taotao, and please read carefully, I’m not Taobao. In Chinese, “淘” (Tao) means to search or hunt, typically used to describe finding good treasures or items. I also love shopping online, on Taobao or other e-commerce platforms, and even hunting for good deals in offline markets for high-value items.
In 2020, the global pandemic hit, and many of my friends found themselves unemployed, with dwindling bank accounts and downgraded consumption. We all started cutting back on everyday expenses. With the rising cost of living in recent years, we need to look globally for high cost performance products. I know my favorite shopping platforms are in China, where I can find low-priced, high-quality items. The cost-effective and quality products from China have always attracted me deeply. In fact, many of my friends also purchase goods from China to run their businesses. So, I thought of using my years of experience shopping on Chinese platforms and markets to share with everyone, hoping it could be helpful. That’s why I started this blog on June 9, 2023, named Shop China Guide.
History
June 9, 2023
Taotao launched the Shop China Guide blog, available at shopchinaguide.com. Our emblem is a panda in a shopping cart, symbolizing the quest for the most cost-effective products throughout China.
December 2023
We branched out into social media by setting up a Twitter account @shopchinaguide and a Reddit account, along with creating a Subreddit, r/ShopChinaGuide.
January 2024
Interacting with our users, we found many interested in using the Chinese second-hand platform Xianyu were hindered by the lack of a Chinese ID or phone number, preventing them from registering on Xianyu or using Xianyu agents for purchases. To aid these users, I established a Subreddit, r/xianyulink, dedicated to helping anyone in need of Xianyu product links. Users can post their requests in this community, and I’ll quickly procure the Xianyu product links for them.
March 2024
Acknowledging some users’ absence of a Reddit account, I introduced an image upload feature on the blog’s comment section. Those in need of Xianyu product links can now directly upload screenshots of the Xianyu items under the “How to Get the Product Link of Xianyu” article’s comments section. I’ll expediently email the links to them.
Moreover, I’ve expanded the blog’s scope to share insights not just for overseas individual shoppers on Chinese e-commerce platforms, but also for overseas businesses looking to source products from China.
I remain committed to addressing your inquiries and sharing my insights. If you have any suggestions, please feel free to email me at [email protected] or leave a message in my r/ShopChinaGuide.
