JD.com
Company History
JD.com History: Founding, Growth & Key Milestones
Founded 1998 in Beijing, China
When was JD.com founded?
JD.com was founded in 1998 in Beijing, China by Richard Liu Qiangdong, making it 28 years old.
- Founded
- 1998
- Founding place
- Beijing, China
- Founders
- Richard Liu Qiangdong
- Headquarters today
- Beijing, China
- Milestones documented
- 14 (1998–2026)
- Current CEO
- Sandy Xu Ran
- Acquisitions
- 4
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1998 | Richard Liu Qiangdong founds Jingdong Century in a 4-square-meter... |
| 2003 | SARS epidemic closes physical shops; Liu begins selling electronic... |
| 2004 | Permanently shuts physical retail stalls to launch e-commerce... |
| 2007 | Raises $10 million from Capital Today; takes radical strategic... |
| 2010 | Launches the 618 Mid-Year Shopping Festival, transforming it into... |
| 2014 | Lists on NASDAQ (JD), raising about $1.78 billion, after Tencent... |
| 2016 | Forms strategic alliance with Walmart, taking over Yihaodian in... |
| 2020 | Completes secondary listing on Hong Kong Stock Exchange (9618);... |
| 2021 | JD Logistics completes separate $3.2 billion IPO on the Hong Kong... |
| 2022 | JD Logistics acquires a controlling stake in Deppon Logistics; Xu... |
| 2023 | Sandy Xu Ran Becomes CEO |
| 2024 | Walmart Sells Its Stake |
| 2025 | Launches JD Food Delivery; makes a tender offer for Ceconomy... |
| 2026 | Q2 revenue falls 2.9% while non-GAAP profit rises 20.8%; Ceconomy... |
- Where was JD.com founded?
- JD.com was founded in Beijing, China in 1998.
- Who founded JD.com?
- JD.com was founded by Richard Liu Qiangdong.
- When did JD.com start?
- JD.com was founded in 1998.
- How old is JD.com?
- JD.com is 28 years old as of 2026.
Founding Story
Richard Liu opened a small counter in Beijing's Zhongguancun electronics market in 1998, selling magneto-optical drives and building a reputation for genuine products in a market known for fakes. When the 2003 SARS outbreak emptied the market, he began selling online through internet forums. Online sales grew fast enough that in 2004 he launched a dedicated website and later closed his physical stores to focus on e-commerce.
Founders
Richard Liu Qiangdong
Richard Liu Qiangdong founded JD.com in Beijing in June 1998 as Jingdong, a small counter in the Zhongguancun electronics market selling magneto-optical drives. He built a reputation for genuine products in a market known for fakes. When the 2003 SARS outbreak emptied the market, he began selling online and in 2004 launched a dedicated website. From 2007 he chose to build JD's own warehouses and delivery network, a costly bet that became the core of JD Logistics. He led JD to its 2014 NASDAQ listing, stepped down as CEO in 2022 and remains Chairman, controlling a majority of voting power through high-vote Class B shares. Richard Liu Qiangdong was born in 1973.
Key Milestones
Richard Liu Qiangdong founds Jingdong Century in a 4-square-meter...
Richard Liu Qiangdong founds Jingdong Century in a 4-square-meter stall in Beijing's Zhongguancun.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgSARS epidemic closes physical shops; Liu begins selling electronic...
SARS epidemic closes physical shops; Liu begins selling electronic components online.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgPermanently shuts physical retail stalls to launch e-commerce...
Permanently shuts physical retail stalls to launch e-commerce website jdlaser.com.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgRaises $10 million from Capital Today; takes radical strategic...
Raises $10 million from Capital Today; takes radical strategic decision to build in-house JD Logistics.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgLaunches the 618 Mid-Year Shopping Festival, transforming it into...
Launches the 618 Mid-Year Shopping Festival, transforming it into a nationwide commercial event.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgLists on NASDAQ (JD), raising about $1.78 billion, after Tencent...
Lists on NASDAQ (JD), raising about $1.78 billion, after Tencent takes a strategic stake and links JD to WeChat.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgForms strategic alliance with Walmart, taking over Yihaodian in...
Forms strategic alliance with Walmart, taking over Yihaodian in exchange for JD shares.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgCompletes secondary listing on Hong Kong Stock Exchange (9618);...
Completes secondary listing on Hong Kong Stock Exchange (9618); spins off JD Health in $3.5B IPO.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgJD Logistics completes separate $3.2 billion IPO on the Hong Kong...
JD Logistics completes separate $3.2 billion IPO on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (2618).
Source: en.wikipedia.orgJD Logistics acquires a controlling stake in Deppon Logistics; Xu...
JD Logistics acquires a controlling stake in Deppon Logistics; Xu Lei becomes CEO as Richard Liu stays Chairman.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgWalmart Sells Its Stake
Walmart sells its entire JD.com stake in August 2024.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgLaunches JD Food Delivery; makes a tender offer for Ceconomy...
Launches JD Food Delivery; makes a tender offer for Ceconomy (MediaMarkt, Saturn); revenue reaches ~$182 billion (RMB1,309.1 billion).
Source: technode.comQ2 revenue falls 2.9% while non-GAAP profit rises 20.8%; Ceconomy...
Q2 revenue falls 2.9% while non-GAAP profit rises 20.8%; Ceconomy deal wins conditional German approval.
Source: ir.jd.comMajor Acquisitions
Ceconomy AG
2025Tender offer for the German parent of MediaMarkt and Saturn to expand into European physical electronics retail.
Deppon Logistics
2022Acquired leading Chinese freight delivery and less-than-truckload (LTL) carrier Deppon Logistics.
China Logistics Property Holdings (CNLP)
2022Acquired warehouse developer CNLP to secure prime logistics land and Grade-A distribution centers across major Chinese cities.
Yihaodian
2016Strategic expansion.
Keep researching JD.com
JD.com Company History FAQ
What are the historic milestones across the 25+ year history of JD.com?
Key milestones: founding in Zhongguancun (1998), moving online after SARS (2003-2004), building its own logistics (2007), NASDAQ IPO (2014), Walmart alliance (2016), Hong Kong listing (2020), JD Logistics IPO (2021), Sandy Xu as CEO (2023), Walmart's exit (2024), and the food-delivery launch and Ceconomy offer (2025).
What was the landmark May 2014 Initial Public Offering (IPO) of JD.com on NASDAQ?
On May 22, 2014, JD.com listed on the NASDAQ (ticker: JD), raising $1.78 billion in the largest Chinese tech IPO in US history at the time, valuing the company at over $26 billion.
Why was the 2008 global financial crisis a key turning point for JD's logistics expansion?
JD kept investing in its own warehouses and delivery network through the 2008 downturn, backed by its 2007 Capital Today funding, laying the groundwork for its later delivery-speed advantage.
How did JD Logistics successfully spin off and list on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange in 2021?
In May 2021, JD Logistics completed its standalone IPO on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (HKEX: 2618), raising $3.2 billion to accelerate automated warehouse construction and international freight expansion.
How did JD.com ensure emergency food and medical deliveries during the 2022 Shanghai lockdowns?
During the 2022 Shanghai lockdowns JD moved couriers and supplies from other regions to keep deliveries of food and essentials running.
When did JD.com complete its secondary listing on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange?
JD.com completed its secondary listing on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (9618) in June 2020, raising about US$3.9 billion.
What was the landmark launch of the 'Spring Dawn Plan' in 2023?
In 2023 JD launched the 'Spring Dawn Plan' to attract third-party merchants, lowering entry costs and offering support tools for new and small sellers.
What is JD.com's long-term vision for the next decade of technology and commerce?
JD describes itself as a supply chain-based technology and service provider. Its current priorities are retail, logistics, instant commerce and food delivery, and international expansion, including the planned Ceconomy acquisition in Europe.
How did JD.com start?
JD.com was founded in 1998 by Richard Liu (Liu Qiangdong) as "Jingdong Century Trading Co." It was literally a 4-square-meter booth in Beijing's Zhongguancun tech market selling magneto-optical drives. The massive turning point occurred during the 2003 SARS epidemic; because customers were too terrified to leave their homes, Liu shut down his physical stores and completely pivoted his entire business to internet sales.
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