These stations are strategically situated in residential neighborhoods and on university campuses, serving functions akin to traditional post offices.

Recipients are notified to collect their packages, which are organized on numerical shelves and assigned a unique 4-digit code as they enter the station.

Customers can locate their package using this code, and after finding it, they scan it at a self-service checkout machine to complete the pickup.

[6][non-primary source needed] Cainiao Express (Chinese: 菜鸟速递) is a courier service.

Cainiao can also be used as one of the shipping methods when selling items on Xianyu, a classified ads and online shopping app for used goods.