How to Buy from 1688 as a Foreigner (2026): Step-by-Step

Last checked: 2026-11-05. Rules change; always confirm with the official source before you travel.

1688.com is Alibaba Group's wholesale marketplace for the Chinese domestic market. It is where Chinese shops, online sellers and small brands buy their stock, which is why prices often look much lower than on Alibaba.com. Foreign buyers can use it, but the low listing price is only the start. This guide explains how the platform works and the realistic ways to buy from it in 2026.

1688 vs Alibaba.com vs Taobao

The prices on 1688 are domestic prices. Many sellers have never exported, do not prepare export cartons or documents, and quote delivery to a Chinese address only.

Three ways to buy

1. Use 1688's international features. Alibaba runs a 1688 Global app aimed at overseas buyers, with translated interfaces, international payment options and logistics services, and the main 1688 app has added similar features. Availability depends on your country, the product and the supplier, so confirm payment, delivery and after-sales terms on the actual order before you rely on it.
2. Buy yourself and ship via a China warehouse or forwarder. Suppliers deliver to a warehouse in China, which receives, counts, photographs and consolidates the goods, then ships them abroad. This suits buyers who can communicate with suppliers and check quality themselves.
3. Use a buying or sourcing agent. The agent searches, negotiates in Chinese, pays, inspects and arranges shipping for a fee. This suits mixed orders from several suppliers, custom products and anyone who cannot visit China.

Step 1: Search properly

• Search in Chinese where you can. Product names in Chinese bring far better results than translated English keywords; a translator or a Chinese-speaking colleague helps.
• Use image search: upload a product photo and 1688 shows similar listings. Treat matches as leads only, since materials and quality vary behind identical photos.
• Look at where suppliers are based. China has strong product clusters, such as Yiwu for small commodities, Shenzhen for electronics, Foshan for furniture and Guangzhou for apparel and leather goods.

Step 2: Read the listing

A 1688 page usually shows price tiers by quantity, product options and the dispatch location. Key terms:

The headline price is usually the lowest tier, for the plainest option. Logos, custom colours, better packaging and smaller quantities all change it.

Step 3: Vet the supplier

• Check the company's legal name on the listing, then look it up on the National Enterprise Credit Information Publicity System for its registration, business scope and status.
• Look at how long the shop has traded, whether its range is focused or random, and whether its reviews mention the product you want.
• Ask directly whether they manufacture or trade. Trading companies are not bad, and are often better for small mixed orders, but you should know which you are dealing with.
• Pay only through the platform or to a company account in the same name as the supplier. Never pay a personal account because it is "faster".
• For larger or custom orders, order samples first, and consider a factory visit or an inspection before shipment.

Step 4: Send a clear enquiry

Suppliers answer specific questions much better than "best price?". Send the same short brief to several sellers: product, material, size, colour, quantity, logo, packaging, destination country and the date you need the goods. Ask for the unit price at your quantity, the sample cost and time, production time, domestic freight to your warehouse and whether the price includes tax. Most 1688 sellers reply in Chinese through the platform chat, Aliwangwang, and many will also ask to move to WeChat.

Step 5: Work out the landed cost

Compare suppliers on the total cost of getting goods to your door, not the unit price: product, domestic freight in China, warehouse or agent fees, export packing, international freight, insurance, import duty and tax, and local delivery. Light, cheap items often cost more to ship than to buy. A simple spreadsheet that lines these up per unit avoids most surprises.

Step 6: Inspect before it leaves China

Problems are cheapest to fix before export. At minimum, have the warehouse check the carton count and photograph the goods. For custom or higher-value orders, check quantity, materials, function, labels and packaging against the approved sample. Once goods are abroad, returns become slow and expensive.

When to go and see suppliers

If 1688 turns up a supplier you want to build a business with, meeting them in person is the best way to confirm they can deliver at volume. Trade fairs such as the Canton Fair let you compare many suppliers at once, and our factory visit guide covers what to check on site. Short business visits are allowed under China's visa-free rules for eligible passports.

FAQ

Can foreigners buy from 1688?

Yes. Some buyers can order through 1688's international app features, depending on their country, product and supplier. Others buy with delivery to a China warehouse or forwarder, or use a sourcing agent.

Is 1688 cheaper than Alibaba.com?

Listing prices are often lower because they are domestic wholesale prices, but you also pay domestic freight, warehouse or agent fees, export packing, international shipping and import duties. Compare landed cost, not unit price.

Does 1688 ship internationally?

Some services and suppliers support international delivery, but many sellers only deliver within China. Check delivery options on each order, or ship through a forwarder.

Official sources

• National Enterprise Credit Information Publicity System
• 1688 Global app (official store listing)