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Summary of significant accounting policies- Various (Details) $ in Millions | 12 Months Ended |  |  |
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
Mar. 31, 2017 CNY (¥) segment | Mar. 31, 2016 CNY (¥) segment | Mar. 31, 2015 CNY (¥) segment | Mar. 31, 2017 USD ($) | Mar. 31, 2017 CNY (¥) | Mar. 31, 2016 USD ($) | Mar. 31, 2016 CNY (¥) | Mar. 31, 2014 CNY (¥)
Business combinations and noncontrolling interests |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net loss attributable to mezzanine equity holders | ¥ 1,961,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Segment reporting |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of operating segment | segment | 4 | 1 | 1 |  |  |  |  |
Number of reportable segment | segment | 4 | 1 | 1 |  |  |  |  |
Sales and marketing expenses |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Advertising and promotional expenses | ¥ 8,799,000,000 | ¥ 5,524,000,000 | ¥ 4,090,000,000 |  |  |  |  |
Cash and cash equivalents |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Amount of cash and cash equivalents |  |  | 108,193,000,000 | $ 20,882 | ¥ 143,736,000,000 | $ 15,519 | ¥ 106,818,000,000 | ¥ 33,045,000,000
Short term investments |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Short-term investments- fixed deposits |  |  |  |  | 1,075,000,000 |  | 97,000,000 |
Short-term investments |  |  |  | $ 437 | 3,011,000,000 |  | 4,700,000,000 |
Investment in equity investees |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Period of time within which results of equity method earnings are recognized in arrears | 3 months |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Minimum |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
VAT receivables |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Collection periods extended for VAT receivables | 3 months |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Investment securities |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Maturities of held-to-maturity securities held | 1 year |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Maximum |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
VAT receivables |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Collection periods extended for VAT receivables | 6 months |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Investment securities |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Maturities of held-to-maturity securities held | 10 years |  |  |  |  |  |  |
VAT receivables | Cost of revenue | Core commerce |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
VAT receivables |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Allowance for doubtful accounts relating to VAT receivables |  |  | 0 |  | 1,321,000,000 |  | 474,000,000 |
Cash held in accounts managed by Alipay |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Cash and cash equivalents |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Amount of cash and cash equivalents |  |  |  |  | 991,000,000 |  | 786,000,000 |
Short term investments held in accounts managed by Alipay |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Short term investments |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Short-term investments |  |  |  |  | ¥ 982,000,000 |  | ¥ 2,564,000,000 |
Government-mandated multi-employer defined contribution plan in PRC |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Other employee benefits |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Contribution amount charged to the consolidated income statements | ¥ 2,710,000,000 | ¥ 2,094,000,000 | ¥ 1,601,000,000 |  |  |  |  |

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