Taobao (淘宝网) and Koubei （口碑网） announced on Wednesday that they had co-established a new channel of real estate. Once successful, Taobao members can enter the channel to post and request any information on real estate, which is also available to Koubei members.

The act, the first ever cooperation between a shopping website and an information classifying website in China so far, also marks the first time for Taobao to open a real estate channel.

The cooperation makes possible the information sharing, highlighting the mutual advantages in Web 2.0 functions and strengthening the loyalty of Taobao users, said a professional of Analysys International, a national analytic institute.

Koubei website was founded in June 2004 by former Alibaba worker Li Zhiguo. On 30 October this year, Alibaba announced strategic investment in Koubei.