What Is 1688? Everything You Need to Know

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1688 is a Chinese domestic wholesale e-commerce platform.

It is China's largest comprehensive B2B (business-to-business) trading marketplace, which effectively links manufacturers and suppliers with a wide range of enterprises, including wholesalers, retailers, and even small businesses from different sectors.

What is 1688 used for?

1688 is mainly used to buy products directly from Chinese factories at wholesale prices. Here are 3 common ways you can use it:

1. Buy products in bulk for resale.

Many Nigerian entrepreneurs use 1688 to buy goods cheaply and resell them.

Example:

A fashion seller in Lagos can buy 100 handbags from a factory on 1688 at N2,000 per bag and resell them in Nigeria for N5,000 each.

2. Source products for a business.

Businesses use 1688 to find manufacturers that can supply products regularly.

Example:

Someone running a phone accessories shop can order chargers, earphones, and power banks directly from Chinese suppliers instead of buying from middlemen in Nigeria.

3. Produce custom or branded products.

Some suppliers on 1688 can manufacture products with your brand name or logo.

Example:

A skincare entrepreneur in Nigeria can order custom cosmetic containers with their brand printed on them.

Is it safe to buy from 1688?

Yes, 1688 can be safe if you take precautions.

For instance,

• Pick suppliers with good ratings.

• Ask for samples.

• Confirm MOQ and shipping.

• Use secure payment or a trusted payment service.

• And work with a reliable China forwarder.

Finally, start with a small order to test quality before buying large quantities of products.

See: How to identify a legit supplier on 1688.

What are the benefits of buying from 1688?

Buying from 1688 has so many advantages for Nigerian buyers:

1. Lower prices: Factories sell cheap in bulk. Example: Buy 200 phone cases at a low unit price and make more profit when you sell in the markets.

2. More product choices: You find many product styles and suppliers on 1688. Example: A boutique owner can discover unique handbag designs that are not available in Nigeria on the platform.

3. Easy customization & bulk orders: Many suppliers accept custom logos and larger orders. Example: A small cosmetics brand can order branded jars in a single shipment instead of paying high and expensive local setup costs.

These benefits help lower costs, grow stock variety, and build your business.

See: How to Buy From 1688 Without Agent.

What are the types of suppliers on 1688?

On 1688, you will usually find 3 main types of sellers/suppliers.

1. Manufacturers (factories)

Manufacturers (factories) are companies that produce the products themselves. Because they make the goods, their prices are usually the cheapest.

Example:

A Nigerian clothing seller can buy 200 T-shirts directly from a factory and even ask the factory to print their brand name on the shirts.

2. Wholesalers

Wholesalers buy products from factories and resell them in bulk. Their prices may be slightly higher than factories, but they often allow smaller orders.

Example:

If you want to buy 50 phone chargers instead of 500, a wholesaler may be willing to sell to you.

3. Trading companies

These companies connect buyers with different factories. They don’t make the products themselves but help source them.

Example:

A Nigerian importer looking for several different products can buy them from one trading company instead of many factories.

Is 1688 available in Nigeria?

Yes. 1688 is accessible from Nigeria, but it serves China and Chinese businesses.

Because many sellers ship only inside China, you’ll need:

• Translation

• A way to pay, such as Alipay or a payment service

• And a China forwarder.

In summary, 1688 was built for Chinese factories and Chinese resellers to trade with each other inside China, which is why the site is in Chinese and uses local payment methods.

See: How to Sign up on 1688 App.

What is the difference between 1688 and Alibaba?

Here is a simple comparison between 1688 and Alibaba:

Example:

If you want to import 200 phone chargers, you may find them cheaper on 1688 because factories sell directly there. But if you want an easier process with English support and international shipping, Alibaba may be simpler.

In simple terms:

• 1688 is cheaper but harder to use.

• Alibaba is easier to use but sometimes more expensive.

Is 1688 cheaper than AliExpress?

Yes, generally.

1688 often has lower unit prices because factories sell wholesale, but expect higher MOQs (Minimum Order Quantity), Chinese-only pages, and extra costs (payment helpers, China forwarder).

AliExpress is easier for small orders and direct shipping, but its per-unit prices are often higher.

What is the minimum order quantity on 1688?

There’s actually no fixed MOQ on 1688.

Each supplier sets their own. Many factory listings set MOQs of 50–500 units. Some trading sellers accept smaller orders. Others require thousands.

However, always check the product page for the 最小起订量 (Minimum Order Quantity) or ask the seller for a sample and the exact MOQ before ordering.

Which currency does 1688 use?

1688 uses the Chinese yuan (CNY), also called RMB (Renminbi).

This means all product prices on the site are shown in yuan, not dollars or naira.

Example:

If a product price is ¥10, it means 10 Chinese yuan per item.

For Nigerian buyers, the usual process is:

1. Check the price in yuan on 1688.

2. Convert it to naira to know the real cost.

3. Pay the supplier through a payment service that converts your money to yuan.

What payment methods does 1688 accept?

1688 mainly accepts Chinese payment methods because the platform is designed for China’s domestic market.

Here are the most common ones:

1. Alipay

Alipay is the most common payment method on 1688. Buyers connect their Alipay wallet and pay suppliers directly in Chinese yuan.

You can fund your Alipay account and pay a supplier directly through the app.

2. WeChat Pay

WeChat Pay is a digital wallet widely used in China for payments on 1688.

A supplier may send a WeChat payment request, and you pay using the WeChat wallet.

3. Chinese bank transfer

Some suppliers accept direct bank transfer to a Chinese bank account. So, a sourcing agent in China or a third-party payment service may transfer the payment to the supplier’s bank account on your behalf.

Can I use 1688 in English?

No, you can’t use 1688 in English.

1688 does not have a full English version. Because it’s designed mainly for Chinese users, most pages are in Simplified Chinese.

However, you can use it in English with translation tools in the following ways:

• Browser translation: If you open the site in Chrome, you can right-click the page and translate to English by selecting “Translate to English.”

• Translation apps: You can copy Chinese text and translate it with apps like Google Translate.

• Translate keywords: You translate their product name into Chinese first, then paste it into the search bar to find products.

Can foreigners buy from 1688?

Yes, foreigners can buy from 1688. But the process is not always straightforward because the platform is designed mainly for Chinese businesses.

Here’s what foreign buyers usually need:

• Translation tools: Most pages on the platform are in Chinese, so buyers often use browser translation or apps like Google Translate to understand product pages and messages.

• A way to pay in Chinese yuan: Many suppliers prefer payment through Alipay or other China-based payment methods.

• A China shipping address: Many sellers ship only within China, so buyers often use a freight forwarder’s warehouse address in China.

Example:

You can order products from 1688, send them to a forwarder in China, and the forwarder ships them to Nigeria on your behalf.