Having spent over a decade deep in the trenches of the Chinese supply chain, helping overseas B2B sellers source products, I find myself regularly recommending 1688.com to my clients. As China’s largest domestic wholesale platform, the prices on 1688 are typically 20% to 30% cheaper than what you will find on Alibaba.com, the international platform most Western buyers are familiar with.
However, almost every foreign seller makes the same critical mistake on their first try: they type English keywords directly into the search bar.
As a native Chinese speaker, I understand how 1688’s underlying system works—it is built entirely for the domestic Chinese market. Today, I am sharing the step-by-step sourcing guide and pitfall-avoidance playbook that I give my clients. If you want to source products from 1688 for your store or business, this method is guaranteed to work.
Why English Search Terms Fail on 1688
When my clients excitedly type English words like “candle” into the 1688 search bar, they get barely any results. The few listings that do show up are usually low-volume, overpriced, and highly irrelevant.
I tell them straight out: 1688 is built strictly for the Chinese domestic market.
If you search in English, you will have to use Alibaba.com or DHgate, which means paying an “export premium.”
To get absolute rock-bottom factory prices, you must search in Chinese. Here is the simple process I use to guide my clients through this:
Step 1: Use AI for Translation (Skip Google Translate)
I always tell my clients to avoid Google Translate. It translates product names too literally, often returning terms that make no sense to Chinese suppliers. Instead, use ChatGPT or Gemini. AI has a much better grasp of e-commerce context and natural Chinese commercial terminology.
💡 Here is the exact prompt I have my clients use. You can copy and paste it directly:
“I want to source [Your Product, e.g., scented candles] on 1688.com. What is the exact, natural Chinese e-commerce keyword for this product? Please give me just the Chinese characters.”
For instance, if you type in “scented candles,” the AI will output the natural Chinese term: 香薰蜡烛.
Step 2: Copy, Paste, and Search
Next, follow these steps:
- Open 1688.com.
- Copy the natural Chinese term from the AI (e.g., 香薰蜡烛) and paste it into the search bar.
- Press Enter. Instantly, thousands of real, source factories in China will appear.
Step 3: Translate the Whole Page in One Click
Looking at a screen full of Chinese characters can be overwhelming. Here is the workaround I teach my clients:
- Make sure you are using Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge.
- Right-click anywhere on the empty space of the page.
- Click “Translate to English” (or your preferred language).
In seconds, your browser translates the entire page, including product titles, tiered pricing, and specifications. You can now browse and compare products on 1688 as easily as you would on Amazon.
What If the Text on Product Images is in Chinese?
Many 1688 suppliers put product details and specifications directly inside their listing images. Standard browser translation cannot read text embedded in images. For this, you need tools that support screenshot translation.
1. Use the Official 1688 Browser Extension (Highly Recommended)
I highly recommend the free, official 1688 browser extension—Global Sourcing AI Tool (available on the Chrome Web Store).
This is a sourcing tool designed by 1688 specifically for overseas buyers and dropshippers. It supports one-click image translation and features built-in cross-platform price comparison and data analysis.
2. Baidu Translate Desktop (For Fast, Clean Translations)
This is a screenshot translation tool I have used for years—Baidu Translate Desktop. While Baidu has mixed reviews on some of its software, this desktop translation tool is a rare gem—it is free and has no ads.
You do not even need to log in. You can translate screenshots instantly using a customizable hotkey (I set mine to Ctrl + Y).
If you have security concerns about downloading Chinese software, you can also use Google Translate or Microsoft Translator on your phone to scan your screen (I use Microsoft Translator on Android).
Sourcing More Efficiently on 1688: Use the Official Extensions
If you ask AI how to pick products, it will give you generic advice: look at sales volume and ratings.
In 2026, we should use the actual, free official efficiency tools. I regularly test and use the official 1688 browser extensions. There are two versions with complementary features, and I recommend using them together:
- Domestic Version: 1688 Air
- Global Version: 1688 AIBuy (Supports multiple languages, perfect for foreign buyers)
I have summarized the core features of these two official extensions below:
| Feature Module | Core Details |
|---|---|
| Cross-Platform Price Match | Search by screenshot, link, or text across 1688, Taobao, JD, Pinduoduo, Amazon, TikTok, and more. Compare prices and services across platforms to find the absolute cheapest source. |
| Product Data Insights | Displays price trends, sales volume, launch dates, and volume-pricing relationships directly on the product page using official data. This helps you evaluate product lifecycle and real profit margins. |
| AI Analysis & Support (Paid) | Official AI evaluation: assesses supplier reliability based on credentials and fulfillment capability. Supports AI title generation, AI review summaries, and bulk AI inquiries. |
| Media Downloader | Download main images, product detail images, and video assets in bulk. You can also export store listings and details to Excel to speed up your product listing process. |
| Cross-Border Features (Global Only) | Automatic currency conversion, image translation, direct price comparison with Amazon/TikTok, multi-language inquiry translation, and private product cataloging. |
Note: For details, see the official pages: 1688 AIBUY Introduction or 1688 Air Introduction. If the page loads in Chinese, use the right-click translation method mentioned earlier. Also, the AI features in the extension are paid, but the free basic features are more than enough for daily sourcing.
An Even Simpler Route: Try the Native English Site
If you want to skip translation tools entirely, you can try 1688’s official international channel: 1688 Air web.
It features a native English interface and lets you search without logging in. You can filter products by category, price, supplier tier, and international certifications. The downside is that its catalog is not as complete as the main 1688 site, but it is excellent for quick product testing.
How to Place Orders Once You Find a Product
Once you find the right product, you will likely hit the real roadblocks that foreign buyers face:
- Payment Obstacles: 1688 is designed for the domestic market, meaning it usually requires a verified Chinese bank account or Alipay to process payments (except for 1688 Global, which accepts international credit cards).
- Logistics Issues: Most 1688 suppliers do not offer international shipping. They only ship to warehouses within mainland China.
- Communication Barriers: Very few factory sales reps speak English, making it difficult to handle quality disputes or customized orders.
Here are the primary ways buyers solve these issues:
1. Use the Official 1688 Cross-Border Channel (Best for Small Test Orders)
1688 operates an export-focused purchasing channel called 1688 Cross-Border.
- Pros: You can pay in foreign currency and ship globally.
- Cons: The product selection is much smaller than the main domestic site. Additionally, suppliers often mark up prices by 20% to 30% to cover cross-border service fees, wiping out 1688’s core pricing advantage.It currently supports only a limited number of countries and regions, including Taiwan, Hong Kong, Vietnam, South Korea, Japan, Kazakhstan, Thailand, Indonesia, Brazil, and Mexico.
2. Use Third-Party Sourcing Agents (1688 Agents)
These are consumer-facing buying platforms like Superbuy and Wegobuy.
- Pros: They automatically import 1688 product links, accept PayPal or international credit cards, and consolidate packages at their Chinese warehouses.
- Cons: High service fees and international shipping rates make them too expensive for commercial B2B sourcing. They also cannot perform detailed quality control.
3. Hire a Professional Chinese Sourcing Agent (Best for B2B)
This is the most reliable option for both small-batch testing and large-volume commercial sourcing. A professional sourcing agent handles payments and logistics, negotiates prices, inspects factories, and manages custom packaging. However, agent quality varies, so you must vet them carefully.
Let Us Handle Your China Sourcing
Once you find the products you want on 1688 using the methods above, send us the links. Our professional team will handle the rest—including 100% open-box quality inspections, managing returns and exchanges directly within China, and coordinating private labeling (OEM/ODM) with the factories:
| Sourcing Stage | How We Protect Your Shipment |
|---|---|
| Local Payments | We pay suppliers directly in RMB, saving you from foreign exchange issues and international wire transfer fees. |
| Quality Inspection | Goods are shipped to our warehouse in China, where we conduct strict open-box inspections before consolidating and shipping them overseas. |
| Global Shipping & Customs | We handle the entire shipping process and all export/import paperwork, delivering directly to your door (including FBA warehouses or private facilities). |
| Compliance & Paperwork | We provide clean export customs filings and commercial invoices to ensure your imports are fully compliant with your destination country’s tax laws. |
👉 Click here to book a one-stop sourcing consultation and start buying directly from Chinese factories
