The 1688 official website is 1688.com. It is a China-focused wholesale marketplace within Alibaba Group and is widely used by factories, wholesalers, trading companies, small businesses, and resellers. If you are outside China, finding the correct website is only the first step. You also need to understand how payment, seller communication, domestic delivery, warehouse receiving, consolidation, and international shipping work.
This guide shows you how to identify the real 1688 site, avoid confusing third-party pages with the marketplace, and plan what happens after a supplier ships your order.
What Is the 1688 Official Website?
The 1688 official website uses the domain 1688.com.
Alibaba Group describes 1688 as a leading integrated domestic wholesale marketplace in China. The platform is mainly designed around the Chinese domestic market rather than international buyers.
That difference matters. Product pages, seller communication, logistics information, delivery addresses, and payment flows may be easier for buyers located in China than for someone ordering from another country.
1688 is also different from Alibaba.com and AliExpress.
| Platform | Main Market | Typical Use |
|---|---|---|
| 1688.com | China domestic market | Wholesale sourcing and supplier purchasing |
| Alibaba.com | International market | Cross-border B2B sourcing |
| AliExpress | International market | Retail and small-quantity purchases |
The platforms may belong to the wider Alibaba ecosystem, but they do not serve exactly the same buying process.
How to Verify the 1688 Official Website
When you search for the 1688 official website, do not rely only on a logo, page title, or a site that includes “1688” in its name.
Check the browser address bar.
The key domain is:
1688.com
Some legitimate 1688 pages may use subdomains or different paths under 1688.com. What matters is the main registered domain.
This is useful because overseas buyers often search phrases such as “home 1688,” “1688 official site,” “1688 site oficial,” “1688 site officiel,” or “1688 China website.”
These searches usually come from the same need: reaching the actual marketplace rather than an agent, warehouse, shipping company, blog, or unrelated website.
Check the Domain Before You Log In
Before entering account details or payment information, check the complete domain in your browser.
A third-party business can legally provide services related to 1688 without being part of the marketplace. A warehouse, sourcing agent, freight forwarder, or tracking website may use “1688” when describing its service.
That does not make it the 1688 official website.
For an authoritative description of the platform, see the Alibaba Group page about 1688.
Is 1688.com Part of Alibaba Group?
Yes. 1688.com is part of Alibaba Group.
For overseas buyers, the important point is that 1688.com and Alibaba.com are separate marketplaces. Alibaba.com is built around international B2B trade, while 1688 mainly serves wholesale demand inside China.
This is one reason buyers may find lower domestic wholesale offers on 1688, but also face more friction with language, payment, Chinese delivery addresses, and international logistics.
Why Do Overseas Buyers Use the 1688 Official Website?
Many buyers use the 1688 official website to find Chinese factories, wholesalers, packaging suppliers, clothing suppliers, accessories, spare parts, household products, electronics, industrial products, and other goods.
The platform can be useful when you want access to domestic Chinese suppliers instead of relying only on export-focused marketplaces.
However, product price is not the same as landed cost.
Before ordering, consider:
- China domestic delivery;
- warehouse receiving;
- inspection requirements;
- package consolidation;
- repacking;
- international freight;
- customs clearance;
- destination duties and taxes;
- final delivery.
A low unit price may not save money if the order is packed inefficiently or shipped internationally in several separate parcels.
Can Overseas Buyers Order From the 1688 Official Website?
Overseas buyers can often browse and source products through the 1688 official website, but completing the full order process may require more planning than on an international marketplace.
Common difficulties include Chinese-language listings, seller communication, payment options, domestic courier tracking, and the need for a receiving address in China.
The most practical question is not simply:
“Can I open 1688 from my country?”
It is:
“What will happen after I pay the supplier?”
If the seller only provides domestic delivery, you need a place in China that can receive the order before international shipping begins.
Does the 1688 Official Website Ship Internationally?
Do not assume every seller on the 1688 official website will ship directly to your country.
Many suppliers are set up mainly for domestic Chinese delivery. A common overseas-buyer workflow is:
1688 supplier → China warehouse → inspection → consolidation → international shipping → buyer
This setup is especially useful when you order from several suppliers.
Instead of paying for several international shipments, suppliers can send their packages to one China warehouse. The warehouse can receive the goods, check them, combine eligible packages, remove unnecessary outer packaging, repack the final shipment, and prepare it for international dispatch.
At 1688 Delivery, customers place their own orders. Our service begins after the sellers ship the goods.
You can review our China warehouse and shipping services to see how receiving, inspection, photo or video confirmation, consolidation, repacking, and international delivery are handled.
What Happens After a Seller Ships Your 1688 Order?
After a seller dispatches your order, the first tracking number normally relates to the domestic Chinese delivery stage.
For example:
Supplier in Yiwu → warehouse in Guangzhou
This is different from the later international shipment:
Guangzhou warehouse → your destination country
The two stages may use different carriers and different tracking numbers.
That distinction explains why a domestic tracking number can show “delivered” even though the goods have not reached you overseas.
Our 1688 tracking number guide explains how to tell an order number from a shipment tracking number and how to follow the domestic delivery stage.
Send the Warehouse Your Tracking Number Early
If you use a China warehouse, send the domestic tracking number after the supplier ships.
Also provide a customer reference, supplier name, product description, and expected package quantity when available.
This helps the warehouse match incoming parcels to the correct customer, especially when several suppliers are sending goods to the same receiving address.
Is 1688 Delivery the 1688 Official Website?
No. 1688 Delivery is not the 1688 official website and is not officially affiliated with 1688.com.
We are an independent China warehouse and shipping service.
Customers place orders with their own suppliers. We can then receive eligible goods at our Guangzhou warehouse and provide services such as visible-condition inspection, photo or video confirmation, consolidation, repacking, delivery to a customer-appointed freight forwarder, or supported international shipping.
This distinction is important when comparing search results.
A website can help you use 1688 without being part of 1688 itself.
What Is the Difference Between 1688 and a 1688 Agent?
A 1688 agent is normally a third-party business that provides one or more services connected with sourcing or buying from 1688.
Depending on the company, an agent may help with supplier communication, payment, purchasing, inspection, warehousing, consolidation, or shipping.
The service scope varies, so check exactly what is included before sending money or goods.
1688 Delivery follows a different standard model: you place the order yourself, and we handle eligible goods after they are sent to our warehouse.
That keeps the purchasing relationship between you and the seller while giving you a receiving and shipping point inside China.
How to Use the 1688 Official Website if You Do Not Read Chinese
The 1688 official website is primarily built for Chinese users, so language can be one of the biggest barriers for overseas buyers.
Browser translation can help with navigation and basic product descriptions, but do not rely on machine translation for important specifications.
Double-check:
- product dimensions;
- materials;
- model numbers;
- voltage;
- color;
- unit quantity;
- minimum order quantity;
- packaging details;
- customization requirements.
For technical goods, batteries, machinery, chemicals, branded products, or regulated goods, confirm important details with the supplier before payment.
A translated product title is not enough to confirm that the item meets your requirements or can be shipped internationally.
How to Use a China Warehouse With 1688
A China warehouse creates a clear separation between purchasing and international shipping.
First, you place orders through the 1688 official website and give suppliers the warehouse address.
Next, suppliers send their goods through domestic Chinese couriers.
After arrival, the warehouse identifies the packages using your reference and tracking information. Depending on the agreed service, the goods can then be inspected, photographed, consolidated, and repacked.
Once you approve the shipment, it can be sent to your own freight forwarder or prepared for an available international shipping route.
This workflow is useful when:
- you buy from several 1688 suppliers;
- sellers do not offer direct international shipping;
- you want photos before overseas dispatch;
- you want to reduce unnecessary packaging;
- you need to consolidate several orders into one shipment.
Common Mistakes When Looking for the 1688 Official Website
The first mistake is assuming any website with “1688” in its domain or title belongs to the marketplace.
The second is treating 1688.com as simply the Chinese-language version of Alibaba.com.
The third is finding the correct website but failing to plan the delivery process before ordering.
Before you pay a supplier, know where the goods will be delivered, how the warehouse will identify them, whether inspection is needed, and how the goods will eventually leave China.
That planning can prevent more problems than simply finding the right product listing.
FAQ About the 1688 Official Website
What is the 1688 official website?
The main 1688 official website is 1688.com. It is a China-focused wholesale marketplace within Alibaba Group.
Is www.1688.com legitimate?
Yes. 1688.com is the main domain used by the 1688 wholesale marketplace.
Is 1688 the same as Alibaba.com?
No. 1688 mainly serves China’s domestic wholesale market, while Alibaba.com focuses on international B2B trade.
Can foreigners use 1688?
Overseas buyers can use 1688 for product sourcing, but language, payment, domestic delivery, and international shipping may require additional planning.
Can I send 1688 orders to a China warehouse?
Yes, if the supplier can deliver to the warehouse and the warehouse accepts the goods. Ask the warehouse for the correct receiving address and package-identification instructions before ordering.
Does every 1688 seller ship internationally?
No. International shipping support varies by seller and product. Many overseas buyers therefore use a China warehouse or freight forwarder after the domestic delivery stage.
Does 1688 Delivery belong to 1688.com?
No. 1688 Delivery is an independent warehouse and shipping company. It is not officially affiliated with 1688.com.
Final Thoughts
The 1688 official website is easy to identify once you know the main domain: 1688.com.
For overseas buyers, the bigger challenge comes after product selection. You need to plan seller communication, payment, domestic delivery, warehouse receiving, inspection, consolidation, repacking, and international shipping.
If you place your own 1688 orders and need a receiving point in China, 1688 Delivery can help manage eligible goods after the suppliers ship them.
Contact our team before sending goods to receive the correct Guangzhou warehouse address, package-identification instructions, and shipping information for your destination.