To cut straight to the chase: non-Chinese citizens cannot register accounts on China’s public service websites. If you need to check limited business information, I can help you look it up for free in small batches. If you want to skip the details and save time, you can reach out to me directly at [email protected].
Here is the actual breakdown based on my own testing.
When you search Google for guides on remotely auditing Chinese suppliers or factories, the top results almost universally point you to official government websites: the National Enterprise Credit Information Publicity System for public corporate records, China Judgments Online for legal disputes, and the Trademark Office of China National Intellectual Property Administration for trademark registrations.
However, these methods no longer work. Anyone telling you otherwise hasn’t actually tested them lately. As a native Chinese citizen, I can tell you firsthand that most Chinese government public service websites now require a Chinese National ID card, a local Chinese phone number, and often real-name facial recognition before you can register an account. Alternatively, you have to log in via the National Digital Identity App. If you are not a Chinese citizen, it is practically impossible to successfully register on these platforms.
For example, the National Enterprise Credit Information Publicity System requires a Chinese ID card and a Chinese phone number. In the next step, it even forces you to manually send an SMS from that phone number to a designated verification code just to pass authentication.
China Judgments Online requires scanning a QR code with a verified Chinese Alipay account to register.
The Trademark Office of China National Intellectual Property Administration demands a legal name, a Chinese National ID, and a Chinese phone number.
While Chinese citizens can easily sign up by providing this identity information, foreign users are completely locked out.
After testing various private corporate data platforms, I found that Tianyancha is the only private commercial alternative that allows non-Chinese users to view basic Chinese company info for free without an account (note: I have no affiliation with them, no registration is required, and this is not an affiliate link).
As shown below, I was able to access company information on Tianyancha without logging in:
In contrast, competing platforms like Aiqicha and Qichacha mandate a login for any search. Since account registration requires a Chinese phone number, foreign users cannot sign up. This means that even if you want to pay for premium data on these platforms—including Tianyancha—you can’t. The process stops dead at step one because you cannot register an account.
Is there a workaround? Honestly, there is no good free solution. If you are outside of China and need to look up Chinese business data, you essentially have to hire a Chinese individual or agency to do it for you.
If you already work with a Chinese sourcing agent, you can ask them to check. Verifying supplier information is standard practice for sourcing agents, and they usually do it for very cheap or even free. Legitimate sourcing agents make their money from purchasing commissions, not basic background checks. Of course, if you need a comprehensive, deep-dive audit, they might charge a small fee.
If you just need to pull some basic information on a Chinese company, feel free to email me and I will look it up for you at no charge. My motivation is simple: I want to help out the community, and if you ever need a Chinese sourcing agent who supports low minimum order quantities (MOQs), I hope you’ll keep me in mind. That’s all there is to it.
You can reach me at [email protected].
