11 minChina’s Specialist Wholesale Markets
Keqiao, Lecong, Chenghai, Guzhen and Yongkang. The single-category clusters that general markets like Yiwu quietly buy from.
Sourcing insights · 25 guides
Field notes from the factory floor.
Field-tested advice on sourcing from China: supplier vetting, quality control, freight, negotiation and the details that protect your margin. Written by the team that does it every week in Guangzhou.
- 25practical guides
- 293minutes of reading, no fluff
- 7topics covered
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China’s Specialist Wholesale Markets
Keqiao, Lecong, Chenghai, Guzhen and Yongkang. The single-category clusters that general markets like Yiwu quietly buy from.
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11 min
11 minThe $800 De Minimis Exemption Is Gone
What US importers actually pay now, why fixed fees hurt far more than the tariff, and the 22 October deadline still ahead.
12 minGuangzhou vs Shenzhen vs Yiwu vs Ningbo
Where your product is actually made. Four cities, four specialities, and why the town matters far more than the city.
12 minHow to Find a Manufacturer in China: Four Routes, Compared
Platforms find candidates. The Canton Fair, the markets and an agent are what actually filter them. Plus the RFQ that gets a reply.
11 minAlibaba vs 1688 vs Made-in-China vs Global Sources
Four platforms, four different jobs. Which to use, why 1688 runs 20 to 40 percent cheaper, and what Trade Assurance actually covers.
10 minHow to Register a Company in Guangzhou as a Foreigner
9 min Takeaway: Three steps: company setup, work permit letter, work visa. You can start from abroad. Real costs and timeline included.
20 minVisiting China for the First Time: The 2026 Setup Guide
14 min Takeaway: Set up Alipay and Weixin at home, know your visa route, and remember your address must be registered within 24 hours of landing.
12 minAmazon FBA China: The Complete Sourcing Guide for 2026
12 min Takeaway: Seven stages from factory to fulfilment centre. Budget 3 to 4 months for a first order, and judge the product on landed cost, not unit price.
9 minChina Importing Glossary: 25 Shipping & Trade Terms
10 min Takeaway: FOB, CBM, HS code, B/L, T/T. Every term you meet in a China quote, decoded in plain English with visuals you can scan.
12 minHow to Ship From China to Amazon FBA in 2026
11 min Takeaway: Air to launch, sea to scale. And the big 2026 change: Amazon stopped doing FBA prep and labeling, so FNSKU now happens at the factory.
14 minIs Your Chinese Supplier's CE or FDA Certificate Real?
10 min Takeaway: Most supplier "certificates" are reused or self-declared. The CE mark is self-applied, so the test report behind it is what counts. Compliance is your job, not the factory's.
16 minHow Much Does a Sourcing Agent in China Actually Cost? (Real 2026 Prices)
9 min Takeaway: $380 flat for sourcing, $60 sampling, $260 QC. The "free agent" is the most expensive route. Ask any agent how they actually make money.
13 minCanton Fair 2026: A First-Time Importer's Playbook
9 min Takeaway: Canton Fair is a filter, not a collection drive. Pick one phase, shortlist 5-10 suppliers, close at the factory.
11 minIs China Still the Best Place to Source Products in 2026?
9 min Takeaway: China still wins on ecosystem depth and speed, not just price, for most categories.
11 minChina+1 vs China Sourcing: What Importers Should Really Know
10 min Takeaway: China+1 is a risk hedge, not a full replacement. Diversify the risk, not the whole chain.
14 minHow to Verify Chinese Suppliers Before Sending Any Payment
10 min Takeaway: Check the business license and hold a real sample before any deposit leaves your account.
12 min2026 Product Sourcing Trends for Amazon and E-commerce Sellers
8 min Takeaway: Differentiation now beats cheap. Smaller MOQs and social commerce are reshaping 2026.
11 minHow AI Is Changing Product Sourcing, Procurement and Supplier Research
9 min Takeaway: AI speeds research, comparison and RFQs, but it still cannot walk a factory floor.
12 minCommon Quality Inspection Mistakes Importers Make Before Shipment
9 min Takeaway: Most costly defects are catchable before the container ships, if you inspect the right way.
13 minChinese New Year 2027: Factory Shutdown and Order Deadlines
13 min Takeaway: CNY 2027 is 6 February. For sea freight, November 2026 is your order month.
12 minDDP, DAP, FOB and EXW Explained for New Importers
9 min Takeaway: EXW can look cheapest while hiding the most cost. Know exactly who pays for what.
10 minHow New Tariffs Are Changing China Sourcing Costs in 2026
6 min Takeaway: A new tariff line can erase your margin overnight if you quoted in FOB and never planned for it.
8 minThe Real Landed Cost Checklist: What Importers Forget Before Ordering
7 min Takeaway: Unit price is usually 70 to 75 percent of true landed cost, the rest is packaging, inspection, freight, duties, brokerage, local handling, inland delivery, and storage.
9 minHow to Avoid Supplier Switching Scams and Fake Factory Claims
7 min Takeaway: A "factory" with a wide product range is probably a trading company. Both can work, but the pricing should reflect it.
10 minSmall MOQ Product Testing: How to Launch Without Overbuying Inventory
7 min Takeaway: A 100-unit test gives you the same demand signal as a 1,000-unit order, at about 14 percent of the cash risk.
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Four reading paths, read in order.
Not sure where to begin? Pick the situation closest to yours and read in order.
New to importing4 guides · about 50 min
1How to Verify Chinese Suppliers Before Sending Any PaymentSourcing · 14 minRead 2Common Quality Inspection Mistakes Importers Make Before ShipmentQuality · 12 minRead 3DDP, DAP, FOB and EXW Explained for New ImportersLogistics · 12 minRead
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Selling on Amazon4 guides · about 42 min
1Amazon FBA China: The Complete Sourcing Guide for 2026Sourcing · 12 minRead 2Small MOQ Product Testing: How to Launch Without Overbuying InventoryStrategy · 10 minRead 3How to Ship From China to Amazon FBA in 2026Logistics · 12 minRead 4The Real Landed Cost Checklist: What Importers Forget Before OrderingLogistics · 8 minRead
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Exploring China's markets5 guides · about 67 min
1Alibaba vs 1688 vs Made-in-China vs Global SourcesSourcing · 11 minRead 2Guangzhou vs Shenzhen vs Yiwu vs NingboSourcing · 12 minRead 3China’s Specialist Wholesale MarketsSourcing · 11 minRead 4Canton Fair 2026: A First-Time Importer's PlaybookSourcing · 13 minRead 5Visiting China for the First Time: The 2026 Setup GuidePlanning · 20 minRead
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Scaling and strategy4 guides · about 48 min
1Is China Still the Best Place to Source Products in 2026?Strategy · 11 minRead 2China+1 vs China Sourcing: What Importers Should Really KnowStrategy · 11 minRead 3How New Tariffs Are Changing China Sourcing Costs in 2026Trends · 10 minRead 4How Much Does a Sourcing Agent in China Actually Cost? (Real 2026 Prices)Sourcing · 16 minRead
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