Online retailer Tmall opened an online to offline (O2O) experience center in the free trade zone of Tianjin, combining a bonded warehouse and field sales.

As the first such center in northern China, it has multiple functions --- including commodity display, field sales and O2O services.

"The cross-border O2O center offers shopping in northChina, such as Beijing andTianjin," said Liu Peng, general manager of Tmall Global, "It also works with the Tianjin free trade zone and Cainiao Logistics to improve infrastructure and built a new bonded warehouse."

The intercity high-speed rail linking Tianjin and Beijing opened on September 20th, and the whole journey just takes 45 minutes. Customers can search for information, make reservations and purchases online over the journey.

The experience center has six pavilions covering the U.S.,Japan,South Korea, Europe, Australia and New Zealand as well as Hong Kong,Taiwan and Southeast Asia.

Tmall has worked with global supermarket chains, department stores and duty-free stores to sell their products online during China’s Spring Festival. Customers can scan codes offline and buy products online at favorable prices.