A 'Taobao village' (táo bǎo cūn) is a rural Chinese village where a large proportion of residents run e-commerce businesses—especially through the Taobao online marketplace. The term combines 淘 (táo, 'to sift/search for value'), 宝 (bǎo, 'treasure' or 'valuable item'), and 村 (cūn, 'village'). Together, they evoke the idea of a village that 'sifts for treasures'—not literally mining gold, but discovering market opportunities by selling local products online. These villages often specialize in specific goods, such as furniture, clothing, or handicrafts, and have developed supporting infrastructure like logistics hubs and digital training centers.

Taobao villages emerged in the early 2010s, driven by improved rural internet access, government support for digital inclusion, and entrepreneurial initiative. They represent a significant shift in China’s rural economy—from agriculture-based livelihoods to digitally enabled entrepreneurship—and are frequently studied as models of inclusive e-commerce development.