A step-by-step guide to shopping on Taobao in Hong Kong

To get started, visit Taobao’s Hong Kong site and look for the registration button. Enter your mobile number and click the orange text (see highlighted box in the image above) to receive a verification code via SMS. Once you’ve entered the code and set a password, you’re officially in the game. For a smoother experience, download the Taobao app from the App Store or Google Play store. The app streamlines everything and notifies you when there are deals, when your favourite product is back in stock, and tracks the progress of your purchases.

Taobao’s default site is in Chinese, but you can easily switch to English by finding the language preference in the top toolbar (see highlighted box in the image above). If you’re using the app, download the English version and it should open in English automatically. If not, just head to your account page by tapping the icon in the bottom right corner, click the settings gear icon in the top right, and navigate to ‘Country and region/language/currency’ to set your preferences. This will translate the entire interface, making browsing a lot less painful. While you’re there, you can also switch the currency from RMB (Chinese Yuan) to your home currency for a better sense of how much things actually cost.

A quick heads-up: some product descriptions, reviews, and seller notes might still be in Chinese. If you’re on desktop, keep a translation web extension handy. It’s not a perfect system, but it’s enough to stop you from ordering cute socks that turn out to be oven mitts.

If your app is set to English, you can type in simple terms like ‘phone case’ or ‘mug’ and get decent results. However, for the best finds, using Chinese keywords is the way to go. Use Google Translate or Baidu Translate to nail the right terms. Being specific is key, as vague searches will drown you in a sea of irrelevant listings. 

One of Taobao’s smartest features is its image search. Click the camera icon in the search bar to upload a photo or snap a photo of an item you like if you’re on mobile. Taobao will use the image to find the exact item or something very similar. It’s perfect for tracking down that exact jacket you saw someone wear on Instagram or finding a cheaper version of a gadget you spotted elsewhere. On mobile, you can also long-press any product photo within the app to find the same or similar items from other shops.

To narrow things down even further, filter your search by selecting options like free local shipping, local returns, price range, materials, and colours. For some items, you might get fewer filter options if you’re browsing in English, so this is where your translation tools will be useful again.

With millions of sellers on Taobao, picking the right one can feel like a mission. Your first step is to always check the seller’s credibility rating displayed under their store name as hearts, blue or gold diamonds, and blue or gold crowns. Shops earn these ratings based on customer sales and feedback. 

Here’s a quick breakdown:

• Hearts: These sellers are the newbies, which is fine if you’re feeling adventurous (we all gotta start somewhere), but they might not be as reliable, so proceed with caution. 
• Diamonds: Shops with diamond ratings have more experience but are still relatively small-scale. There are blue and gold diamonds, with gold being the higher rating.
• Crowns: Blue crown sellers are high-volume and usually trustworthy, while gold crown sellers are well-established and far less likely to scam you. 

Tmall sellers are also deemed more reliable as they are usually the official stores of a certain brand; these stores get star ratings – the higher the better.

Another good indicator is the number of followers a store has. Generally, the more the better as it shows they’ve been around long enough to build a loyal crowd. But do be aware that good ratings and followers can sometimes be bought, which is why looking at reviews is essential.

If you take away just one thing from this guide, let it be this: never skip the review section! Buyers often post photos of what they actually received, which is your best way to check up on real-life colours, size, and quality. Always look for detailed reviews with photos, especially for clothing and electronics, where fit and function matter. Be cautious of products with tons of five-star text reviews but no photos – that’s often a sign of bots or paid praise. Genuine reviews have substance, with comments on how that cute dress actually fits or if the gadget works as advertised. 

If a product has barely any reviews, consider it a gamble. It might be a new listing, or it could be a dud nobody’s bothered to buy. Your safest bet is to stick to items with plenty of feedback. Spending a few minutes here can save you from the agony of unboxing something that looks like it was salvaged from the bottom of the ‘unwanted’ pile. 

Reviews are auto-translated to English on desktop, but some comments will be in Chinese – again, your translation tool is your best friend here. On the mobile app, just hit the translate button under each comment for an instant English version.

Before you head to checkout, take a moment to add your address and payment details in your settings to make the whole process much quicker. Once you hit the checkout button, review your cart carefully. Make sure everything is there and confirm that all items can be shipped to Hong Kong as some sellers only ship within mainland China.

Hong Kong shoppers have several payment options on Taobao. You can use international credit cards like Visa or Mastercard, or local options like AlipayHK, PayMe, Octopus Pay, and PPS. However, do note that some payment methods may not appear if you’ve set things to English. 

The most important thing here is to check your order summary before paying. Look for any sneaky additional costs like shipping fees. While many shops offer free shipping to Hong Kong, it’s not guaranteed. Also, keep an eye out for transaction fees attached to certain payment methods – some might even offer a discount!

Shipping to Hong Kong is easy if you know your options. Direct shipping is the fastest, delivering your goodies in around three to five days, but it’s not available from every seller. 

If you’re buying from multiple shops, consolidation is the way to go. Just check out your items as normal and choose the consolidation option before paying. Your orders will first be sent to a warehouse. Once everything arrives, they’re wrapped into a single package and shipped to Hong Kong. The delivery fee is charged per kilogram, but the upside is that you get one big package delivered at once instead of multiple parcels trickling in over days. 

Most Taobao shops now ship to Hong Kong, but always double-check. Some might be reluctant to ship a single pair of earrings long-distance, and the same goes for oversized items like furniture, or that giant cat tree your cat didn’t really need (but you really wanted). Unfortunately, the consolidation option may not appear sometimes if your app is set to English. If it is not showing, try completing your order on the desktop website instead, or switch the app language to Chinese and have a friend guide you through the final steps.

Once your packages are on their way, you’ll want to keep tabs on them. Head to your account page and look in the ‘My orders’ section to see where your packages are. If you’re consolidating your packages, download the Cainiao app from the App Store or Google Play for real-time updates. It provides detailed tracking info, so you’ll know if your package is stuck at customs, ready for pickup, or arriving at your door.

• Setting the language to English makes browsing a lot easier, but be aware that some products and payment options aren’t available unless you switch to Chinese. We recommend doing the searching and shopping in English, and switching over to Chinese when it’s time to pay or use consolidation services. The English version is still a work in progress, after all.
• To really get the most out of Taobao, keep an eye out for coupons and discounts. Many shops offer a slash on prices just for following their store, saving an item to your wishlist, or adding a product to your shopping cart.
• If you’re buying items like clothing or shoes, do be aware that the fit is usually tighter, so check the measurements carefully before purchasing.
• It pays to time your shopping for mega sales like the ‘Double 11’ (November 11) or ‘618’ (June 18), when most shops will offer huge discounts on their star products. 
• Your search results will show how many people have bought a certain item. Generally, listings with a higher sales volume are more reliable. Some stores also display how many years they’ve been in business, which is another good clue to their credibility.
• If you’re buying electronics, make sure the voltage and plug types are compatible to avoid ordering a gadget that’s useless without an adapter.
• Taobao’s livestreams are always fun to watch, but they’re not just entertaining, as sometimes they will offer exclusive discounts you won’t find on regular listings. Just don’t get sucked into buying a limited-time deal unless you’ve checked reviews first.
• Some shops will make you feel like a kid in a candy store, but consider splitting your order across multiple sellers to test quality before committing to a big purchase. It’s a bit more work, but it beats crying over a dozen pairs of crappy socks.

Taobao’s a wild and wonderful jungle, and you’re now, hopefully, equipped to navigate it like a pro. Start browsing, and don’t blame us when your flat’s overflowing with packages and cardboard boxes. Happy shopping!