A postman returns to his vehicle at Idsworth near Rowland's Castle in southern England July 10, 2013. Britain unveiled plans on Wednesday to float a majority stake in postal operator Royal Mail later this financial year, promising free shares for workers still fiercely opposed to the country's biggest privatisation in decades. [Photo/Agencies]

The nearly 500-year-old British postal service Royal Mail is joining the online shopping boom in China by opening a virtual shop on an Alibaba Group Holding Ltd owned site.

Royal Mail will offer Chinese customers increased access to "premium, authentic and high quality" British products, according to the London-based courier.

Moya Greene, CEO of Royal Mail, said the shop will help retailers and exporters expanding into the Chinese market.

It will remove challenges many companies would otherwise face in getting their products into the hands of Chinese customers, including promotion on Chinese e-commerce sites, a local customer support service, customs formalities, documentation, shipping and logistics.

China is the biggest overseas consumer of British products online, accounting for 25 per cent of overseas online shoppers buying goods from the UK, according to Royal Mail.