From CBD to Suzhou Street: Building JD’s POP System and Scaling B2B in Chengdu

Background and Early JD Experience

Gaofei Gao, originally from Hunan, joined JD.com on September 16, 2009 after JD acquired Qianxun. He was part of the Qianxun technical team and, persuaded by the POP platform leader Wang Biao, decided to stay despite another job offer in Financial Street.

Launching the POP System

Shortly after joining, Gaofei was assigned to the nascent POP business, responsible for building product, merchant, and promotion systems from scratch. At that time JD was transitioning its development environment from .NET to Java, and the team had to create a Java architecture from the ground up. Within four months, the POP system went live on September 15, 2009, with the first test SKU being a Nokia 2100 phone.

Move to Chengdu Research Institute

On August 1, 2014 Gaofei transferred to JD’s Chengdu Research Institute. His first major project there was taking over the large‑client system, initially a seven‑person B2B team that later grew to about eighty members, forming the core of JD’s B2B middle‑office platform.

Team Culture and Execution

Gaofei emphasizes that Chengdu’s work rhythm mirrors the headquarters: fast, execution‑focused, and demanding. The office environment is modest compared with the former CBD location, but the “battle‑spirit” drives higher engagement. He stresses leading by example, setting clear project goals, and celebrating achievements to boost morale.

Sports and Community

The institute promotes physical fitness through football, basketball, and badminton teams, believing strong health supports intense work. Their teams have won the Southwest regional football league, underscoring the competitive spirit.

Quick Q&A Highlights

Difference from headquarters: fewer large‑scale activities, but a new headquarters building in Chengdu will soon close the gap.

Motivating staff: sharing meals, beer, and occasional mahjong sessions.

Personal fitness: weekly sports activities on Wednesdays.

Favorite Chengdu food: “Ye’er Babi” (a sweet snack).

2018 wish: health for his whole family.