1688 for Beginners: How to Source Products from China at Factory Prices

If you're sourcing products from China, you've probably used Alibaba.com. It's the obvious choice — it's in English, suppliers are used to dealing with foreigners, and you can pay by credit card.

Here's what most beginners don't realize: the same product from the same factory costs 30-50% less on 1688.com. Once you're comfortable navigating 1688, check out 3 product categories with supply gaps in 2026 — they're worth exploring before competition heats up.

1688.com is Alibaba's domestic platform. It's entirely in Chinese and designed for the Chinese market. But with the right approach, anyone can use it to access factory-direct prices.

This guide walks you through everything you need to know to get started on 1688 — no Chinese required.

What is 1688.com?

1688.com (pronounced "yao-liu-ba-ba") is China's largest B2B wholesale platform. It's owned by the Alibaba Group — the same company behind Alibaba.com — but it serves the domestic Chinese market.

The numbers speak for themselves:

10x more suppliers than Alibaba.com
30-50% lower prices than Alibaba on the same products
Real market prices — these are the prices Chinese domestic buyers pay

The catch? Everything is in Chinese. But as you'll see, that's a surmountable barrier that pays for itself many times over.

How Much Can You Save?

Let's look at a real example. We searched for "wireless earbuds" on both platforms:

	1688.com	Alibaba.com
Unit price	$3.50	$6.80
MOQ (Minimum Order Quantity)	100 units	50 units
Same factory?	Yes	Yes (with "foreigner tax")

On a 500-unit order:

1688.com cost: $1,750
Alibaba.com cost: $3,400
Savings: $1,650 (48%)

That difference goes straight to your bottom line.

Step 1: Create a 1688 Account

Before 2024, creating a 1688 account as a foreigner was nearly impossible. The platform required Chinese ID verification and a Chinese bank card.

Today, it's much easier — especially if you use a sourcing agent (more on that later).

Option A: Direct Account (Requires Chinese Payment Method)

Go to 1688.com
Click "免费注册" (Free Registration) in the top right
Enter your phone number and set a password
Complete verification via SMS (note: a Chinese number works best, but international numbers sometimes work)
Link an Alipay account for payment

Caveat: Most international buyers use a sourcing agent instead of buying directly. If you're planning to buy directly, see Option B.

Option B: Via a Sourcing Agent (Recommended for Beginners)

This is the simplest path for most Western buyers:

Find a reputable sourcing agent (see recommendations below)
They provide you with a 1688 purchasing account
You browse 1688 and send them product links
They purchase, inspect, and ship the products to you

Agent fees typically range from 3-10% of the product cost.

Step 2: Navigate the Interface

The 1688 homepage looks overwhelming at first — it's dense, text-heavy, and entirely in Chinese.

Here's what you need to know:

The Search Bar (搜索)

At the top center of the page is the search bar. This is your primary tool. Type in Chinese keywords for the products you want.

Pro tip: Use the camera search icon (照相机) next to the search bar. Upload a photo of a product you want, and 1688 will find matching listings — no Chinese typing required.

Key Navigation Links

Chinese	English	Purpose
首页	Home	Main page
供应商	Suppliers	Search by supplier
采购商城	Sourcing Mall	Curated wholesale section
找加工	Find Manufacturing	Custom manufacturing

Category Navigation (行业分类)

On the left side of the homepage, you'll find industry categories:

服装服饰 (Apparel & Fashion)
数码电脑 (Digital & Computers)
家居用品 (Home & Kitchen)
美妆日化 (Beauty & Personal Care)
母婴用品 (Baby & Maternity)
食品酒水 (Food & Beverage)
办公文教 (Office & School Supplies)
包装 (Packaging)

Step 3: Search for Products Like a Pro

The key to finding good products on 1688 is using the right search strategy.

Method 1: Direct Chinese Keyword Search

Use Chinese keywords for better results. Here are some common categories:

English	Chinese	English	Chinese
Wireless earbuds	无线蓝牙耳机	Phone case	手机壳
Bluetooth speaker	蓝牙音箱	Yoga pants	瑜伽裤
LED lights	LED灯	Watch	手表
Backpack	背包	Jewelry	首饰
Kitchen gadget	厨房用品	Toy	玩具

Method 2: Image Search (Easiest)

Found a product on Amazon or Shopify that you want to source?

Download the product image
Go to 1688.com
Click the camera icon in the search bar
Upload the image
1688 shows you visually similar products with prices

This is the most powerful feature for beginners — it completely bypasses the language barrier.

Method 3: Find Alibaba Suppliers on 1688

Found a supplier on Alibaba but want their 1688 pricing?

Get the supplier's company name from their Alibaba page
Search that name on 1688
They're almost certainly selling there too — at lower prices

Some suppliers hide their 1688 store, but most don't bother if they don't know you're looking.

Step 4: Evaluate Suppliers

Not all 1688 suppliers are created equal. Here's how to vet them:

What to Check

Business license (营业执照): Legitimate suppliers display their license on their store page. Check the registration date — older is generally better.
Transaction volume (成交数): Look at how many transactions the supplier has completed. Higher is better.
Store score: 1688 shows supplier ratings out of 5 for:
- 描述相符 (Description accuracy)
- 服务态度 (Service attitude)
- 发货速度 (Shipping speed)
Crown rating: Like Alibaba, 1688 uses a crown system. More crowns = more established supplier.
Customer reviews (评价): Read recent reviews. Look for photos from actual buyers.

Red Flags

Store open for less than 6 months
Zero or very low transaction volume
Only stock photos, no real product images
Prices that seem too good to be true (they usually are)

Step 5: Communicate with Suppliers (Without Speaking Chinese)

You don't need to speak Chinese to communicate on 1688. Here are three approaches:

Approach 1: Use the 1688 App (Built-in Translation)

The 1688 mobile app has a built-in translation feature. Messages you send are automatically translated to Chinese, and replies are translated back to English.

Approach 2: Copy-Paste Templates

Here's a template you can use when contacting suppliers:

你好，我是国外的买家。我对你的产品[Product Name]感兴趣。请问这款产品可以发国际快递吗？MOQ是多少？价格可以优惠吗？

(Hello, I'm an international buyer. I'm interested in your product [Product Name]. Can this product be shipped internationally? What's the MOQ? Is there a discount?)

Approach 3: Use a Sourcing Agent

Your agent handles all communication. You just send product links.

Step 6: Place Your Order

When you're ready to order, you have two paths:

Path A: Buy Directly (Advanced)

If you have a Chinese payment method (Alipay connected to a Chinese bank account), you can buy directly from 1688. The platform supports:

Alipay (支付宝)
WeChat Pay (微信支付)
Bank transfer (银行转账)

Path B: Use a Sourcing Agent (Recommended)

The agent purchases on your behalf. The typical process:

You send product links
Agent quotes total cost (product + shipping + agent fee)
You approve and pay
Agent buys and inspects products
Agent repackages and ships internationally
You receive products at your doorstep

Recommended Sourcing Agents

Here are agents commonly used by 1688 buyers:

Agent	Fee	Best For	Website
Yoybuy	5-10%	Beginners	yoybuy.com
Superbuy	3-8%	Small orders	superbuy.com
Bhiner	5-10%	Product inspection	bhiner.com
CSSBuy	3-5%	Experienced buyers	cssbuy.com

Common Mistakes Beginners Make

Ordering without checking quality first: Always order samples before committing to bulk. A $3 sample saves you from a $500 mistake.
Ignoring shipping costs: The product might cost $3, but shipping can add $2-5 per unit. Factor this into your total cost calculation.
Not checking the supplier's export experience: Some 1688 suppliers have never shipped internationally. Ask before ordering.
Using Google Translate for everything: Google Translate handles Chinese poorly for business terms. Use DeepL or ChatGPT instead for better translations.

Is 1688 Right for You?

You should use 1688 if...	You should stick with Alibaba if...
You want factory-direct prices	You need English support
You're ordering in moderate volume (50+ units)	You want simple credit card payments
You're willing to use an agent	You're buying samples (1-5 units)
You have some sourcing experience	You're brand new to importing

Next Steps

1688.com is the single biggest opportunity for reducing your product costs when sourcing from China. The 30-50% savings over Alibaba prices directly improves your margins.

If you want the complete step-by-step system — including detailed supplier verification checklists, quality control forms, and 25+ copy-paste Chinese message templates — check out the China Sourcing Suite, which covers every aspect of sourcing from China across 205 pages.