JD.com's second listing in Hong Kong:22 years of domain name evolution has started!

On the morning of June 18th at 9:30 AM, on the same day as its annual 618 store celebration and shopping festival, JD.com officially debuted on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. Even its stock code, "9618," incorporated the "618" theme. JD.com became the fourth internet company on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange to implement a dual-class share structure, following in the footsteps of Alibaba and NetEase.

Last night, JD.com's US-listed shares surged by over 2.36%, reaching a new high since its initial public offering, ultimately closing at $62.01, equivalent to HKD 240.3. This represented a 6.33% premium over the IPO price of HKD 226. It is expected that JD.com's Hong Kong-listed shares will open significantly higher today. Additionally, JD.com's new shares traded on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange's gray market closed at HKD 242.6, a 7.35% increase.

When it comes to JD.com, many remember the jaw-dropping moment when its founder, Liu Qiangdong, spent 30 million RMB to acquire the brand domain name JD.com years ago. However, initially, JD.com did not fully utilize this excellent domain name. Let's explore the evolution and upgrading of JD.com's domain names.

​

1. The "Retired" Domain Names

In June 1998, Liu Qiangdong founded JD.com in Zhongguancun, Beijing, selling optical storage products. In early 2004, the company ventured into e-commerce as "Jingdong Multimedia Network" (JD.com's predecessor) and used the domain name jdlaser.com. In June 2007, it launched a new domain, 360buy.com, later renamed "Jingdong Mall."

In 2010, JD.com spent 200,000 RMB to acquire the domain name Toplife.com for its luxury goods website but ultimately opted for the domain 360Top.com. However, this domain now redirects to jd.com. Although these early domain names are mostly out of use, they are still held by JD.com to protect the brand's history.

2. JD.com's Flagship Domain JD.com

In 2013, JD.com acquired jd.com for 30 million RMB, garnering industry attention. Today, JD.com and its two-letter domain name, jd.com, are closely intertwined and mutually supportive. This move significantly reduced JD.com's reliance on search engine traffic, saving significant advertising costs.

Additionally, jd.cn, jd.com.cn, jd.hk, jd.cc, and jd.wang are all under JD.com's ownership, serving various purposes, including international shopping, redirection to the main site, and regional markets.

Another notable acquisition during this period was vg.com, rumored to have been purchased by JD.com in 2015 for over half a million USD, and it is being used for JD.com's flash sales project.

3. Embracing Double-Pinyin Domain Names

Recognizing the appeal of Pinyin domain names to Chinese users, JD.com acquired several double-Pinyin domain names to facilitate easy access and input for its audience.

Examples include Jingdong.com, acquired in 2011 for a rumored seven-figure sum, Jingdong.net, and paipai.com, acquired in 2014 from Tencent's Paipai network. Baitiao.com, associated with "JD Baitiao" (a credit service), serves as JD.com's official financial domain. Jingxi.com represents "JD Jingxi," a social e-commerce platform. Wangyin.com, meaning "Online Banking," became the official website for JD.com's subsidiary, Wangyin Online Technology.

4. A Variety of Domain Names in Action

JD.com also employs domain names tailored to its various business segments. For instance:

- jdwl.com is JD.com's official logistics website, highlighting the importance of its logistics network.

- jddj.com was acquired in 2015 and serves as the domain for JD Daojia, JD.com's grocery delivery service.

- jdpay.com is the official domain for JD.com's online payment platform, JD Pay.

In conclusion, domain names play a pivotal role for internet companies. JD.com's domain name journey illustrates the significance of continuous domain name upgrades as a company grows. It's thanks to these strategic domain acquisitions that JD.com shines brightly today, culminating in its second listing on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.