How to Use 1688
A complete guide from sign-up to requesting quotes

Hi, this is GreenFrog Seoul.

In our previous post, we covered the five essential things you need to know when sourcing from Chinese factories. Today, we're diving deep into the first one: a practical guide to using 1688 (yi-liu-ba-ba).

If you're looking to sell your own branded products on e-commerce platforms, chances are you'll end up on 1688 at some point.

But the moment you open the site, everything is in Chinese and it can feel overwhelming. This guide is all you need to get started.

1. What Exactly Is 1688?

1688.com is a domestic Chinese wholesale platform operated by the Alibaba Group. The Alibaba.com most people know is designed for international buyers, while 1688 is where Chinese businesses trade with each other.

Here's a quick comparison:

2. How to Create an Account

Since 1688 is a domestic Chinese platform, the registration process can be a bit tricky.

Standard Registration

• Go to 1688.com and click 免费注册 (Free Registration) in the top right corner
• A Chinese mobile phone number is required (for SMS verification)
• You'll need to link an Alipay (支付宝) account

If You Don't Have a Chinese Phone Number

• You can log in with a Taobao (淘宝) account — Taobao allows registration with international phone numbers
• Alternatively, use a sourcing agent to purchase on your behalf

3. Finding Products — Image Search Is the Key

There are two main ways to search for products on 1688.

Method 1: Keyword Search

• You need to search in Chinese
• Example: Bluetooth speaker → 蓝牙音箱
• Use Google Translate or a similar tool to convert your search terms

Method 2: Image Search (Recommended!)

• Click the camera icon next to the search bar
• Upload a photo of the product you're looking for
• Identical and similar products will appear instantly

4. How to Identify Reliable Factories

There are tens of thousands of factories on 1688, and not all of them are trustworthy. Use these criteria to filter your options.

What to Check

• 实力商家 / 超级工厂 badges — These are verified, high-quality factories certified by Alibaba
• Transaction volume — Higher transaction volume over the last 30 days indicates an active, in-demand factory
• Years in operation — Factories with 5+ years of history are generally safer bets
• Reviews and ratings — Look for factories maintaining a rating of 4.5 or above
• Factory photos — Check whether they show actual production line photos (watch out for stock images)

5. Requesting Quotes — How to Do It Right

Once you've found a promising factory, it's time to request a quote.

What to Include in Your Quote Request

• The product you want (attach images)
• Quantity (leave room for MOQ negotiation)
• Desired materials, colors, and sizes
• Whether you need OEM (your own logo/branding)
• Shipping destination (e.g., United States, Europe, Korea)
• Desired delivery date

Sample Message (in Chinese)

你好，我是韩国的买家。
我想订购这款产品，请问最低起订量是多少？
可以OEM贴牌吗？
请发报价单，谢谢。

(Hello, I'm a buyer from Korea. I'd like to order this product — what is the minimum order quantity? Is OEM/private labeling available? Please send a quotation. Thank you.)

Summary

1. 1688 is China's domestic wholesale platform — 30–50% cheaper than Alibaba.com
2. Registration requires a Chinese phone number or a Taobao account — if it's too complicated, use a sourcing agent
3. Use image search to find the original factory for any product instantly
4. Filter factories by 实力商家/超级工厂 badges, transaction volume, and years in operation
5. Send quote requests to 3–5 factories at once — writing in Chinese gives you an advantage