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Your guide to buying from 1688 without knowing Chinese

Last update: September 10, 2025

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1688.com is one of China’s largest B2B wholesale marketplaces, designed primarily for domestic buyers. As a result, the entire website is in Chinese, making it a powerful yet often intimidating platform for international buyers.

To add to the challenge, most suppliers on 1688 have limited English proficiency, which can make communication and negotiations more difficult.

But don’t worry, buying from 1688 without knowing Chinese is possible. In this blog, we’ll explore the top tools to navigate and shop on 1688 as a non-Chinese speaker.

What is 1688?

1688.com is a subsidiary of Alibaba Group, founded in 1999 with the mission of connecting Chinese manufacturers, factories, and wholesalers directly with domestic buyers. Originally designed to help small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in China to source products at wholesale prices from millions of manufacturers, the platform has since expanded to serve overseas buyers in markets like Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macau, and Vietnam.

Why source products from 1688?

Competitive pricing

Eliminate middleman markups: Most suppliers on 1688 are factories and wholesalers, allowing buyers to avoid extra fees that comes with trading companies
Volume discounts: Tiered pricing means lower per-unit costs for larger orders

Vast product selection

10M+ suppliers across 1,700 subcategories with nearly every Chinese factory is represented
Complete online catalogue: Buyers can explore endless options online without anytravel.

Reliable and vetted suppliers

Verified business licenses: All suppliers are vetted and required to display registration details (founding date, capital, address).
Cross-border support: Dedicated “Cross-Border Supply” section simplifies international product sourcing.

Low MOQs

Order as few as 1–2 items: Unlike traditional wholesale platforms with high MOQs, 1688 offers low MOQs for many products.
Ideal for startups and market testing: With low MOQs, small businesses with limited budgets can quickly order products and even test the markets and product quality before placing bulk orders.

While 1688.com currently operates exclusively in Simplified Chinese, international buyers can still navigate the platform effectively using these tools:

1. [External Solution] AIBUY Browser Extension – Your 1688 Shopping Assistant

Step 1: Download and install the AIBUY extension
Step 2: Click the extension icon in your browser toolbar to activate

Step 3: After installing the plugin, click the settings icon on the right side of your browser, where you can customise your preferred language and currency

Step 4: Open any e-commerce platform like AliExpress or Amazon, find the product you want to purchase, hover your mouse over the product image, and a [1688 AIBUY] logo will appear in the upper right corner of the image. Click it to search for the same product

Step 5: AIBUY instantly translates product details into your preferred language and converts all prices to your selected currency in real-time.

Step 6: After clicking on the product image, you will be redirected to the corresponding product page on 1688

Note: The browser’s translation feature can only translate text-based information displayed on 1688 web pages, and cannot translate text embedded in images

2.1688.com On-Site Features

2.1 Use the browser’s translation feature (using Chrome as an example)

Download and install Google Chrome browser
Open the 1688 website directly, or go to the 1688 site via the 1688 AIBUY plugin. Right-click on the webpage and select [Translate to your preset language] to convert the page content to your preset language.
Additionally, after translation, click the button at the top right to freely switch to other languages of your choice.

Note: The browser’s translation feature can only translate text-based information displayed on 1688’s webpage and cannot translate text embedded in images.

2.2. Using AIBUY to Translate Conversations in WangWang (If Needed)

WangWang chat software allows you to communicate directly with 1688 suppliers. With the AIBUY plugin, you can use this feature to chat with 1688 suppliers on WangWang while having your conversations translated in real time.

After visiting 1688.com, click the WangWang chat icon on the right to enter the conversation interface

Then, click the image next to the supplier’s message box to automatically translate the conversation into your preset language.

Simplify your 1688 payments with World Pay

While tools like AIBUY and browser translation features make it easier to browse and communicate on 1688 without knowing Chinese, placing the order is only half the challenge. For international buyers, making payments on 1688 can be just as complex—especially without a Chinese bank account.

That’s where World Pay comes in. As the only authorised cross-border payment method on 1688, it allows you to pay suppliers securely in your local currency, with full compliance and competitive exchange rates. It’s the simplest, safest way to complete your 1688 transactions—no Chinese bank account required.

Disclaimer: The information contained herein is intended for informational purposes only and does not constitute any advice. Before acting on the information you should consider whether it is appropriate for you, in light of your objectives, financial situation or needs. Whilst the information has been obtained from and is based upon multiple sources we believe to be reliable, we make no representations or warranties regarding the accuracy or completeness of the information. WorldFirst shall not be responsible for any losses or damages arising from your reliance of such information.