How to Use 1688 Without Speaking Chinese (Step-by-Step Guide)

1688.com is Alibaba’s domestic Chinese wholesale platform — and it’s where Alibaba suppliers buy their own stock. That means prices are often 30–60% cheaper than what you’ll see on Alibaba’s international site. The catch? The entire platform is in Chinese.

But here’s the thing: you don’t need to speak Chinese to use it. You just need the right tools and a bit of patience. This guide walks you through the entire process.

Why Bother with 1688 When Alibaba Exists?

Before diving into the how-to, let’s be clear about why the language barrier is worth dealing with.

On Alibaba (the international platform), suppliers know they’re dealing with foreign buyers willing to pay more. Prices reflect that. Many Alibaba listings are marked up 30–80% above what the same supplier charges domestic Chinese buyers on 1688.

1688 is where:

Alibaba suppliers buy their raw materials
Small factory owners list their production directly
Domestic Chinese resellers and retailers source stock

The prices are simply closer to the factory floor. For competitive product categories, that gap in cost can make or break your margins.

What You Need Before You Start

1. Google Chrome browser with Google Translate extension installed

This handles most of the page translation automatically. Go to the Chrome Web Store, install “Google Translate,” and set it to auto-translate Chinese pages.

2. A 1688 account

Go to 1688.com and click the registration button (注册) in the top right corner. You can register with a phone number — international numbers work. You’ll receive a verification SMS.

3. A payment method

This is the trickiest part for international buyers. 1688 is designed for Chinese buyers with Chinese payment methods (Alipay linked to a Chinese bank account). Your options:

Use a 1688 sourcing agent (recommended for beginners) — they buy on your behalf
Alipay international — limited functionality for foreign cards
WeChat Pay — now accepts some international Visa/Mastercard

For your first few orders, using a sourcing agent is the most practical path. See our guide on China sourcing agents for details.

Step 1: Search for Products on 1688

Method A: Text Search with Translation

Go to 1688.com
Think of the product you want in English (e.g., “stainless steel water bottle”)
Type it into Google Translate, translate to Chinese: 不锈钢水瓶
Copy the Chinese text and paste it into the 1688 search bar
Hit search

Your Chrome translation extension will translate the results page automatically (imperfectly, but usably).

Method B: Image Search

This is often more reliable than text search.

Find a product image on Amazon, AliExpress, or Google Images
On 1688, click the camera icon next to the search bar
Upload your image
1688 will show visually similar products from suppliers

Image search bypasses the language problem entirely and often surfaces results that text search misses.

Method C: Search by AliExpress or Alibaba Listing

Find a product you like on AliExpress. Copy the product title, translate it to Chinese, search 1688. You’ll often find the same factory selling the same product for significantly less.

Step 2: Filter and Evaluate Results

Once you have search results, use these filters (translated via Chrome):

价格 (Price): Set a maximum price range
起批量 (MOQ): Filter by minimum order quantity
发货地 (Ship from): Filter by province — Guangdong, Zhejiang, and Jiangsu have the highest concentration of manufacturers

What to look for in a listing:

Transaction volume (成交量) — higher means more proven supplier
Store rating — look for stores with high feedback scores
Number of repeat buyers (回购率) — a good signal of product quality

Step 3: Evaluate a Supplier’s Store

Click through to a supplier’s store page. With Chrome translation, you can read:

Company name and location — Verify they’re an actual business, not a one-person reseller
Business type — 厂家 (factory/manufacturer) vs 贸易公司 (trading company)
Years in operation — Shown on their store page
Product range — A supplier with 2,000 SKUs is likely a trader; 50–200 focused SKUs suggests a manufacturer

Step 4: Contact the Supplier

Click the chat button (联系供应商 or the chat icon). This opens the Wangwang messaging system (1688’s version of WeChat for business).

Type your message in English — many suppliers dealing with international buyers have staff who can handle basic English, or they’ll use translation apps on their end.

A simple opening message that works:

“Hello, I am an international buyer interested in [product name]. Can you please send me your price list and minimum order quantity in English? I am interested in purchasing [X] units.”

If they don’t respond in English, paste their reply into Google Translate. Most product-related conversations can be handled this way.

Step 5: Get Samples Before Ordering

Never skip samples on 1688. Unlike Alibaba, where suppliers are used to international sample requests, 1688 suppliers sometimes push back. Here’s how to handle it:

Ask for the sample price (样品价格) and shipping cost to your country
Offer to pay for the sample — this signals you’re serious
Use a freight forwarder’s address in China if you don’t want to pay international express shipping for just a sample (your forwarder can consolidate and ship to you later)

A sample order typically costs $20–$80 including international express shipping.

Step 6: Place Your Order

For small orders with suppliers willing to ship internationally:

Confirm the price, quantity, and shipping method in chat
The supplier creates an order (订单) in the system
You pay via whatever method you’ve set up

For most international buyers, this is where the sourcing agent step comes in. Your agent has Chinese payment methods and handles the transaction on your behalf, taking a service fee of 3–10% of the order value.

Common Problems and Solutions

Problem: Search results are irrelevant Solution: Try image search instead of text search. Or refine your Chinese keywords — Google Translate doesn’t always produce the most natural product terminology. Try translating your product name with context: “wholesale [product]” often gives better results.

Problem: Supplier won’t ship internationally Solution: Most 1688 suppliers sell domestically only. Use a 1688 sourcing agent or a Yiwu/Guangzhou consolidator who can receive the goods in China and reship to you.

Problem: Can’t figure out the payment system Solution: Use a sourcing agent for payment. This is the standard approach for foreign buyers on 1688. See our sourcing agent guide.

Problem: Product photos look nothing like what arrives Solution: Always order samples. Request photos of actual stock (实物图) rather than studio photos. Video calls showing the product are possible and a good sign when a supplier agrees.

The Bottom Line

1688 is not as polished as Alibaba for international buyers, but the price difference is real. For established product lines where you already know what you want, 1688 with a sourcing agent is one of the most cost-effective sourcing methods available.

Start with image search, use Google Translate for communication, order samples before bulk, and consider a sourcing agent for your first few transactions. The learning curve is about two to three sourcing cycles — after that, it becomes routine.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is 1688 safe for international buyers?

1688 has a buyer protection system, but it’s designed for Chinese buyers. For international transactions, using a sourcing agent who is accountable to both parties provides better protection than going direct.

What’s the difference between 1688 and AliExpress?

AliExpress is Alibaba’s retail platform — small quantities, higher prices, international shipping. 1688 is the wholesale platform for domestic Chinese buyers — larger quantities, much lower prices, primarily domestic shipping.

Do I need a Chinese phone number to register?

International phone numbers work for registration. You’ll receive an SMS verification code.

Can I use a VPN to access 1688?

1688 is accessible without a VPN from most countries. VPNs can sometimes cause issues with the payment and verification systems, so it’s better to access without one if possible.