1688.com: The Ultimate Guide for Global Buyers

Sourcing Directly from Chinese Suppliers at Factory Prices

Published: 4 May 2026 | By Epic Sourcing Global | Category: Sourcing 101

If you have ever bought products through Alibaba and thought: “There must be a cheaper way to source directly from Chinese factories” — you are right. That platform is called 1688.com, and it is one of China’s largest domestic B2B wholesale marketplaces. Until recently, it was largely inaccessible to international buyers. That has changed.

In this complete guide, Epic Sourcing walks you through everything a global buyer needs to know about 1688.com — from setting up an account and navigating the platform in Chinese to placing orders, handling payments, and shipping internationally. Whether you are a small e-commerce operator, an Amazon FBA seller, or a growing retail brand anywhere in the world, this guide gives you the tools to tap into factory-direct pricing that Alibaba simply cannot match.

Importantly, this guide is written for buyers outside of China — in markets such as the United States, Singapore, Ireland, South Africa, the Philippines, and beyond.

Ready to start sourcing smarter? Speak with our global team: Get a Free Sourcing Consultation →

What is 1688.com and Why Should Global Buyers Care?

1688.com is owned and operated by Alibaba Group — the same company behind Alibaba.com, AliExpress, and Taobao. While Alibaba.com is designed for international B2B buyers and AliExpress targets international retail shoppers, 1688 was built specifically for Chinese domestic wholesale trade.

This matters for international buyers because 1688 connects you directly with Chinese manufacturers, wholesalers, and trading companies that supply the goods later sold on Alibaba at a marked-up price. Cutting out that middleman can reduce your unit cost by anywhere from 10% to 50%, depending on the product category and order volume.

Think of 1688 as the raw, unfiltered factory floor of Chinese manufacturing. The prices are lower, the suppliers are more numerous, and the platform is entirely in Mandarin — which has historically kept international buyers away. But with the right approach (and the right sourcing partner), 1688 is increasingly accessible to global buyers who know what they are doing.

Key Differences: 1688 vs Alibaba vs AliExpress

• 1688.com: Domestic China B2B, lowest prices, minimum orders vary, Chinese language only, designed for Chinese buyers
• Alibaba.com: International B2B, moderate prices, MOQs typically higher, English interface, built-in trade assurance
• AliExpress: International B2C/B2B, highest per-unit prices, low or no MOQ, English interface, retail-focused

For volume buyers, 1688 is where the real savings live. For first-time importers still testing a product concept, Alibaba or AliExpress may be better starting points. Learn more about the difference between sourcing platforms in our guide to finding the right sourcing approach.

Setting Up a 1688 Account as an International Buyer

Until 2023, creating a 1688 account required a Chinese mobile number and often a Chinese payment method. Alibaba Group has since made the platform more accessible to international users, particularly through the integration with the Alibaba international login.

Step-by-Step Account Setup

• Go to www.1688.com on your desktop browser
• Click on the sign-in/register option (look for 登录 or 免费注册, which mean ‘Login’ and ‘Free Register’)
• Select ‘Sign in with Alibaba’ if you have an existing Alibaba.com account — this is the easiest route for international buyers
• Complete any verification steps, which may include a phone number or email confirmation
• Once logged in, use Google Translate’s browser extension or a translation tool to navigate the interface

Pro tip: Use Google Chrome’s built-in page translation feature (right-click anywhere on the page and select ‘Translate to English’). It is not perfect, but it makes the platform navigable.

Navigating the Platform in Chinese

Even with translation, 1688 can be challenging. The product search works well with Chinese keywords — which means your best results come from searching in Mandarin. Here is a practical trick: find a similar product on Alibaba, copy the Chinese product title, paste it into 1688’s search bar, and compare results. You will typically find the same or similar products from the same factories at significantly lower prices.

Another option increasingly used by global buyers is to work with a China-based sourcing agent who can navigate 1688 natively. At Epic Sourcing, our China-based team regularly uses 1688 to identify suppliers, compare prices, verify factories, and negotiate on behalf of our global clients. Learn more about our sourcing services.

Finding Reliable Suppliers on 1688

With hundreds of thousands of suppliers listed, quality varies enormously on 1688. Unlike Alibaba, there is no international-facing ‘Trade Assurance’ badge or Gold Supplier verification specifically designed for overseas buyers. You need to know what to look for.

Supplier Verification Signals on 1688

• 实业认证 (Shiye Renzheng): Business licence verified — this is the gold standard on 1688, meaning the supplier has been verified by Alibaba as a legitimate registered business
• Transaction volume: Look for suppliers with a high number of completed transactions (成交量). Volume indicates market trust
• Response rate: Suppliers with a high response rate (> 90%) are more professional and reliable
• Years on platform: Older accounts with consistent activity are generally more trustworthy
• Factory vs Trading Company: Look for 厂家 (factory) labels vs 贸易 (trading) to understand the supply chain

Be aware: just as on Alibaba, not all listings represent the actual manufacturer. Some are trading companies reselling factory goods. This is not necessarily bad — trading companies often offer more flexibility on small orders — but it affects your pricing and negotiating power.

Conducting Product and Supplier Due Diligence

Before committing to any order, follow these steps:

• Request a video call or video of the production facility
• Ask for product samples before placing a bulk order — on 1688, many suppliers charge for samples but credit the cost against your bulk order
• Cross-reference the supplier on other platforms (Alibaba, Made-in-China.com) to verify their identity and product consistency
• Check the supplier’s product listings for consistency — a supplier that sells unrelated product categories may be a trading company

For significant orders, a third-party factory inspection is strongly recommended. Epic Sourcing provides pre-shipment inspection services in China and can visit factories on your behalf. Get in touch to arrange a factory visit.

Placing Orders and Communicating with Suppliers

Communicating with 1688 suppliers as an international buyer comes with one obvious challenge: language. Most 1688 suppliers communicate in Mandarin, and their English may be limited or non-existent. Here are practical strategies:

Communication Strategies

• Use WeChat for direct communication — most Chinese suppliers are on WeChat and respond faster there than on 1688’s internal messaging system
• Use DeepL or Google Translate for written communications — DeepL is generally superior for Chinese-to-English translation
• Keep messages short, clear, and specific. Avoid idioms, humour, and ambiguous phrases. Write like you are communicating with someone who will be reading your message through a translation tool
• Always confirm product specifications, quantities, packaging requirements, and lead times in writing before sending payment

When placing an order, you will encounter 1688’s ordering process, which differs from Alibaba’s international workflow. Many suppliers accept payment via Alipay (a Chinese digital payment system), bank transfer (T/T), or through Alibaba’s escrow-like systems. As an international buyer, T/T (Telegraphic Transfer) to a Chinese bank account is often the most straightforward route, though it carries more risk than using an escrow system.

Minimum Order Quantities (MOQs) on 1688

MOQs on 1688 tend to be lower than on Alibaba because these suppliers are accustomed to serving small Chinese domestic businesses. It is not unusual to find suppliers willing to produce as few as 50–200 units. However, this varies widely by product category. Read our in-depth guide on navigating MOQs when importing from China for more context.

Payments and Buyer Protection on 1688

This is arguably the most sensitive area for international buyers and deserves careful attention.

Unlike Alibaba.com, which offers Trade Assurance (a built-in payment protection mechanism for international buyers), 1688.com was designed for domestic Chinese transactions where both buyer and seller are subject to Chinese commercial law. As an international buyer, you have less built-in protection.

Payment Methods for International Buyers

• T/T Bank Transfer: Most common for international buyers. Risk is higher because you pay before production. Use a deposit structure — typically 30% upfront, 70% before shipment
• Alipay International: Alibaba’s payment system increasingly supports international cards and accounts, offering more protection than straight bank transfer
• Through a Sourcing Agent: Many global buyers prefer to have a China-based sourcing agent handle payments on their behalf, adding a layer of verification and accountability

At Epic Sourcing, our global clients routinely use our China-based team to manage supplier payments and ensure funds are only released upon verified production completion and pre-shipment inspection. This significantly reduces payment risk on 1688. Learn how our sourcing process protects you.

Shipping from 1688 Suppliers to Your Country

1688 suppliers typically do not offer international shipping as a standard service — they sell FOB (Free on Board) or EXW (Ex Works), meaning the logistics are your responsibility once goods leave the factory.

Your International Shipping Options

• Freight Forwarder: Hire a China-based freight forwarder to consolidate and ship your goods. They can handle customs documentation, export clearance, and arrange sea or air freight
• Consolidation / LCL: If your order is less than a full container load, less-than-container-load (LCL) consolidation allows you to share container space with other importers, reducing cost
• Express Couriers (DHL, FedEx, UPS): Suitable for smaller orders or samples — expensive per kilogram but fast and reliable
• Sourcing Agent with Freight Management: Many experienced sourcing agents (including Epic Sourcing) manage the full logistics chain, from factory pickup to your warehouse door

For guidance on choosing between sea and air freight, visit our blog post on shipping options for global importers.

The Biggest Challenges International Buyers Face on 1688

Being honest about the challenges is important. 1688 is not a plug-and-play platform for global buyers. Here are the most common pain points — and how to address them:

Language Barrier

The entire platform is in Chinese. Search results, product descriptions, supplier communications, and contracts are all in Mandarin. Translation tools help, but nuances — especially in product specifications and contract terms — can be lost.

Solution: Work with a bilingual sourcing agent who can manage communications, read supplier contracts, and catch potential misunderstandings before they become expensive mistakes.

Supplier Verification

Without Alibaba’s international-facing verification systems, it can be harder to distinguish reliable suppliers from unreliable ones on 1688. The platform’s own verification system (实业认证) is valuable but requires the ability to interpret Chinese business documents.

Payment Security

As noted above, standard 1688 transactions do not come with the same buyer protection as Alibaba’s Trade Assurance. This makes due diligence on the supplier and using structured payment terms especially important.

Returns and Disputes

Raising a dispute or processing a return with a 1688 supplier is considerably more complex for international buyers than for Chinese domestic buyers. Prevention — through thorough sampling and pre-shipment inspection — is far more effective than cure.

Is 1688.com Right for Your Business?

1688 is most valuable for buyers who:

• Already have experience importing from China and understand the basics of supplier management
• Are looking to reduce unit costs on established, proven products
• Have or can access a China-based sourcing agent to bridge the language and logistics gap
• Are ordering sufficient volume to justify the added complexity compared to Alibaba

For buyers who are new to importing from China, starting with Alibaba.com or working with a full-service sourcing agent who manages 1688 on your behalf may be a more pragmatic first step. Once you have a functioning supply chain, migrating key suppliers to 1688 for cost savings is a logical next move.

Let Epic Sourcing Be Your 1688 Partner

Navigating 1688.com as an international buyer is entirely achievable — but it is significantly easier, faster, and safer when you have a team in China that does this every day.

Epic Sourcing is a global product sourcing company with a China-based team that works across 1688.com, Alibaba, direct factory relationships, and trade shows like the Canton Fair. We work with brands, retailers, Amazon FBA sellers, and businesses across the United States, Europe, Singapore, and beyond to source products reliably, at competitive prices.

Our services include supplier identification and vetting, sample coordination, quality control inspections, production monitoring, and full logistics management. Whether you want us to manage your entire sourcing process or just verify a specific supplier on 1688, we can help.

Start sourcing smarter on 1688 with expert support. Contact Epic Sourcing Today →

Explore more sourcing guides on our Epic Sourcing blog, or learn about our full range of services for global importers.