Best Chinese E-commerce Platforms for International Buyers: Top Sites Compared

If you’re buying from China as an international buyer, the real problem is not “where to click.” It’s figuring out which platform matches what you’re doing: one-off shopping, small wholesale, or serious sourcing.

China’s e-commerce ecosystem is huge and still growing. The U.S. International Trade Administration points out that China is the world’s largest online retail market and expects continued growth in the coming years. On the cross-border side, official data cited by Science and Technology Daily says China’s cross-border e-commerce exports hit 2.15 trillion RMB in 2024 (with total cross-border trade volume 2.71 trillion RMB).

Translation: there are a lot of legit sellers, a lot of bad sellers, and a lot of platforms designed for different goals.

This guide is my practical directory-style comparison, from the perspective of someone living in Guangzhou and regularly dealing with “international buyer” problems: shipping, customs, MOQs, payments, quality control, and not getting stuck with useless products.

Quick picker: choose your buyer type

Pick the line that matches you, then jump to the platforms that fit.

• “I’m buying 1–5 items for myself” → Go to: AliExpress, Temu, Shein
• “I want small wholesale (10–200 pcs) without running a full sourcing project” → Go to: DHgate, Alibaba.com (low MOQ listings)
• “I’m sourcing for a real business (factories, samples, compliance)” → Go to: Alibaba.com, Made-in-China, Global Sources
• “I want China-domestic prices (Taobao/1688), and I can handle forwarding/agents” → Go to: Taobao, 1688 (with a forwarding/agent workflow)

Top Chinese e-commerce platforms compared (directory table)

Platform	Best for	Typical MOQ	Payments	Shipping	Main risk	My quick verdict
AliExpress	small orders, casual shopping	1	card + local options	direct intl shipping	uneven quality, listings can be misleading	best “easy mode” for random buys
Temu	cheap impulse buys	1	card	direct intl shipping	quality inconsistency, returns can be annoying	good for cheap stuff you don’t care about
Shein	fashion basics	1	card	direct intl shipping	sizing/material surprises	decent for clothing, not for “quality sourcing”
DHgate	small wholesale + “factory-ish” lots	2–200	card/escrow-style	direct + agents	counterfeit/brand issues, QC	okay for cheap wholesale if you’re careful
Alibaba.com	real B2B sourcing	samples to bulk	Trade Assurance options	freight + forwarders	supplier verification + spec mistakes	best all-around for business sourcing
Made-in-China	industrial goods + verified suppliers	samples to bulk	bank/card varies	freight	slower comms sometimes	strong for machinery/industrial categories
Global Sources	vetted suppliers + higher-end sourcing	samples to bulk	varies	freight	fewer “tiny sellers”	better when you care about credibility
1688	cheapest China-domestic wholesale	usually higher	RMB + China-focused	needs agent/forwarder	language + returns + shipping complexity	best prices, hardest workflow
Taobao	China-domestic retail variety	1	RMB + China-focused	needs forwarder	language + seller variety	great for “China-only” items, not B2B
JD (domestic)	authentic-ish domestic retail	1	China-focused	limited intl	access + language	useful if you live in China, not ideal abroad

Two important notes before you pick:

1. “Chinese platform” does not always mean “ships internationally.” Taobao/1688 are domestic-first, so you usually need a forwarding address or agent.
2. If you’re buying anything that might be counterfeit or brand-infringing, you’re gambling with customs seizure and wasted money. DHgate is famous for cheap “alternatives,” and even mainstream platforms get scrutiny for illegal/counterfeit listings.

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My top recommendations (if you just want the answer)

Best for personal shopping (B2C)

1. AliExpress: widest selection, easiest flow
2. Temu: cheapest impulse-buy lane (quality varies, obviously)
3. Shein: best for fashion basics

Best for small wholesale without a full sourcing project

1. DHgate: small-lot wholesale is the point (be strict with seller ratings and photos)
2. Alibaba.com: look for “Ready to Ship” and low-MOQ listings, and use Trade Assurance when possible

Best for serious business sourcing (B2B)

1. Alibaba.com: biggest ecosystem + structured sourcing tools + Trade Assurance options
2. Global Sources: stronger “supplier credibility” vibe, better for mid-to-high-end sourcing
3. Made-in-China: strong for industrial categories

Best prices (but hardest for international buyers)

1. 1688: domestic wholesale pricing, huge variety, not designed for foreigners
2. Taobao: domestic retail variety, great for “China-only” products

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What each platform is actually good for (with examples)

AliExpress (personal buys): phone accessories, home gadgets, small electronics, random household stuff.
Temu (ultra-cheap): basic home items, small tools, “I don’t care if it lasts 2 years” buys.
Shein (fashion): basic clothing and accessories where you accept sizing variance.

DHgate (small wholesale): unbranded accessories, packaging, basic apparel lots, low-budget store inventory.
Alibaba.com (B2B): custom products, OEM/ODM, larger lots, factory relationships, compliance requests.
1688/Taobao (domestic): packaging, components, niche items, domestic-only brands, and “the exact thing you saw in a China video.”

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My safe buying workflow (works on almost every platform)

If you copy one section from this post, copy this.

Step 1: Define the spec before you message anyone

• Material, size, weight, color, power standard (if electronics), packaging needs
• Photos help. Measurements help more.

Step 2: Shortlist sellers like you’re hiring staff

• Look for consistent reviews/ratings, repeat buyers, clear photos, detailed descriptions
• Avoid new stores selling everything under the sun.

Step 3: Ask 5 questions (and don’t skip them)

1. “What’s the exact material/composition?”
2. “What’s the unit weight and packaging size?” (shipping costs live here)
3. “What’s MOQ and price tiers?”
4. “Can you send real photos/videos of the exact item?”
5. “What’s the delivery method and delivery time to my country?”

Step 4: Samples before bulk (always)
If the seller won’t do samples, that’s your answer.

Step 5: Protect the payment

• On Alibaba, use Trade Assurance when it makes sense
• On consumer platforms, keep everything inside the platform and don’t “pay off-platform.”

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“Which platform should I use?” decision table

Your goal	Best platform	Backup	Why
Buy a few items cheaply	AliExpress	Temu	easiest global shipping
Buy clothes cheaply	Shein	AliExpress	best product category fit
Buy 50–200 units fast	DHgate	Alibaba (low MOQ)	small wholesale flow
Find real factories	Alibaba.com	Global Sources	best B2B structure
Industrial/machinery sourcing	Made-in-China	Alibaba.com	category strength
Lowest China-domestic pricing	1688	Taobao	domestic-first pricing

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Common mistakes I see international buyers make

• Choosing the cheapest item, then acting shocked when shipping doubles the cost.
• Ordering bulk without a sample because “the photos looked fine.”
• Mixing “personal shopping” platforms with “business compliance” expectations.
• Buying brand-risk items and then blaming customs when it gets seized.