How to Buy from 1688.com: A Beginner's Guide to China's Wholesale Market

1688.com is Alibaba's wholesale marketplace for the Chinese domestic market. Many of the sellers are factories or trading companies, so prices are often lower than on Taobao — sometimes the same products, sold before any retail mark-up. It's popular with small online shops, resellers and anyone buying in bulk.

1688 vs Taobao vs Alibaba.com

• 1688: wholesale for Chinese buyers. Lowest prices, Chinese only, ships inside China.
• Taobao: retail. Single items, huge choice, Chinese only, ships inside China.
• Alibaba.com: international B2B. English, ships abroad, but prices and minimum orders are usually higher.

Understanding minimum orders and price tiers

Many 1688 listings have a minimum order quantity (MOQ), for example 2 or 10 pieces, and the unit price drops as you buy more. Our product page shows the minimum order and the current price for each option, so you can see the real cost before you order. Some sellers also allow mixing colors or sizes to reach the minimum.

How to order from 1688 with EZBUYSHIP

1. Search 1688 on our site in English, or paste a 1688 product link.
2. Pick options and quantities. Prices are shown in your currency.
3. Pay for your order. We place it with the seller through 1688's official purchasing channel.
4. Goods arrive at our warehouse, where we count and photograph them.
5. We consolidate your orders and ship them with the channel you choose.

Search by photo

Seen a product somewhere else? Upload a photo on our search page and we'll find the same or similar items on 1688. It's one of the easiest ways to find the factory behind a product.

Buying larger quantities?

For bulk orders, custom packaging, sourcing several suppliers or quality inspection before shipping, contact our B2B team. We can also arrange sea freight for larger shipments.