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Summary of significant accounting policies- Long-lived assets (Details) $ in Millions | 12 Months Ended
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Mar. 31, 2017 USD ($) | Mar. 31, 2017 CNY (¥) | Mar. 31, 2016 CNY (¥) | Mar. 31, 2015 CNY (¥)
Summary of significant accounting policies |  |  |  |
Amortization expenses | $ 744 | ¥ 5,122,000,000 | ¥ 2,931,000,000 | ¥ 2,089,000,000
Impairment of long-lived assets other than investment in equity investees and investment securities |  | ¥ 0 | 0 | 0
Minimum |  |  |  |
Summary of significant accounting policies |  |  |  |
Period of land use rights | 40 years | 40 years |  |
Terms for movies and television serial dramas | 6 months | 6 months |  |
Maximum |  |  |  |
Summary of significant accounting policies |  |  |  |
Period of land use rights | 70 years | 70 years |  |
Terms for movies and television serial dramas | 10 years | 10 years |  |
User base and customer relationships | Minimum |  |  |  |
Summary of significant accounting policies |  |  |  |
Estimated useful lives of intangible assets | 1 year | 1 year |  |
User base and customer relationships | Maximum |  |  |  |
Summary of significant accounting policies |  |  |  |
Estimated useful lives of intangible assets | 6 years | 6 years |  |
Trade names, trademarks and domain names | Minimum |  |  |  |
Summary of significant accounting policies |  |  |  |
Estimated useful lives of intangible assets | 3 years | 3 years |  |
Trade names, trademarks and domain names | Maximum |  |  |  |
Summary of significant accounting policies |  |  |  |
Estimated useful lives of intangible assets | 20 years | 20 years |  |
Developed technology and patents | Minimum |  |  |  |
Summary of significant accounting policies |  |  |  |
Estimated useful lives of intangible assets | 2 years | 2 years |  |
Developed technology and patents | Maximum |  |  |  |
Summary of significant accounting policies |  |  |  |
Estimated useful lives of intangible assets | 5 years | 5 years |  |
Non-compete agreements | Minimum |  |  |  |
Summary of significant accounting policies |  |  |  |
Estimated useful lives of intangible assets | 2 years | 2 years |  |
Non-compete agreements | Maximum |  |  |  |
Summary of significant accounting policies |  |  |  |
Estimated useful lives of intangible assets | 6 years | 6 years |  |
Licensed copyrights of video content | Cost of revenue | Digital media and entertainment |  |  |  |
Summary of significant accounting policies |  |  |  |
Amortization expenses |  | ¥ 3,886,000,000 | 347,000,000 | 84,000,000
Impairment charges |  | ¥ 857,000,000 | ¥ 0 | ¥ 0
Computer equipment and software | Minimum |  |  |  |
Summary of significant accounting policies |  |  |  |
Estimated useful lives of property and equipment | 3 years | 3 years |  |
Computer equipment and software | Maximum |  |  |  |
Summary of significant accounting policies |  |  |  |
Estimated useful lives of property and equipment | 5 years | 5 years |  |
Furniture, office and transportation equipment | Minimum |  |  |  |
Summary of significant accounting policies |  |  |  |
Estimated useful lives of property and equipment | 3 years | 3 years |  |
Furniture, office and transportation equipment | Maximum |  |  |  |
Summary of significant accounting policies |  |  |  |
Estimated useful lives of property and equipment | 5 years | 5 years |  |
Buildings | Minimum |  |  |  |
Summary of significant accounting policies |  |  |  |
Estimated useful lives of property and equipment | 20 years | 20 years |  |
Buildings | Maximum |  |  |  |
Summary of significant accounting policies |  |  |  |
Estimated useful lives of property and equipment | 50 years | 50 years |  |

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