Blog | Qiao Sourcing

Key takeawaysGuides, market analyses and factory insights on sourcing and manufacturing in China, written by the Qiao team: platforms, payments, inspections, and where each product is actually made.Sep 9, 2026 · Li WeiHow to Find a Manufacturer in China: The 2026 MethodFinding a real Chinese manufacturer takes four steps: locate your product's cluster, triangulate candidates across platforms (Alibaba, 1688, fairs), verify licenses and factories, and confirm with an on-site...Read the guide →Sep 9, 2026 · Li WeiFabric Sourcing in China: Keqiao, Mills and MinimumsFabric sourcing is the half of a garment program that decides price, quality and calendar. In China it runs through Keqiao (Shaoxing), the world's largest fabric market, plus...Read the guide →Sep 9, 2026 · Li WeiB2B Sourcing Platforms: The 2026 Landscape, Ranked by Use CaseSeven channels cover B2B sourcing from China in 2026: an agent-run route that wraps the platforms (verification, QC, export handled), then Alibaba (discovery + protection), 1688 (domestic prices),...Read the guide →Sep 9, 2026 · Li WeiMade-in-China.com vs Alibaba: Which B2B Platform for Your Order?Alibaba is the bigger marketplace with stronger buyer protection; Made-in-China.com is the smaller rival with a more industrial catalogue and heavier audited-supplier emphasis. For consumer goods and first...Read the guide →Sep 9, 2026 · George KornChina vs Vietnam vs India: Where to Source What in 2026In 2026, low-cost country sourcing is a three-way decision: China for capability and speed, Vietnam for mid-tech scale at moderate tariffs, India for cotton verticals, hand work and...Read the guide →Sep 9, 2026 · Li WeiTypes of Sourcing: 7 Ways to Buy From China, ComparedThere are seven practical ways to buy from China: through a sourcing agent, factory-direct, via a trading company, on B2B platforms (Alibaba), on domestic platforms (1688) through a...Read the guide →Sep 9, 2026 · Li WeiHow to Buy From Alibaba Safely: A 9-Step Professional ChecklistBuying safely from Alibaba comes down to one sequence: verify the supplier, write measurable specs, pay on-platform for the first order, and release the balance only after a...Read the guide →Sep 9, 2026 · Chen JingMade in China Label Rules: US and EU Origin Marking BasicsGoods imported into the United States must be marked with their country of origin, legibly, in English, in a conspicuous place, and durably: for Chinese-made goods that means...Read the guide →Sep 9, 2026 · Li WeiAlibaba Trade Assurance: What It Covers, and What It Never WillTrade Assurance is Alibaba's built-in payment protection: pay through the platform and you can claim a refund if the supplier misses the shipping date or the written product...Read the guide →Sep 9, 2026 · George KornTelegraphic Transfer (T/T): China’s Default Payment, Done SafelyA telegraphic transfer is simply an international bank wire, usually over SWIFT; the telegraph died, the name stayed. In China trade, T/T is the default instrument, and the...Read the guide →Sep 9, 2026 · George KornD/P Payment Meaning: Documents Against Payment in China TradeD/P means documents against payment: the exporter ships, sends the documents through banks, and your bank releases them to you only when you pay. Without the original bill...Read the guide →Sep 9, 2026 · Chen JingGross Weight vs Net Weight: The Difference That Prices Your FreightNet weight is the weight of the goods alone. Gross weight is the goods plus every layer of packaging: polybags, boxes, cartons, pallets. The difference (packaging) is called...Read the guide →Sep 9, 2026 · Chen JingMade in PRC Meaning: Why Labels Say PRC Instead of ChinaMade in PRC means Made in the People's Republic of China. It is the same country of origin as Made in China, written with the state's official initials....Read the guide →Skip the readingSend one brief, get a vetted short-listQIAO SOURCING runs cluster matching, license checks, compared quotes, and inspections at every stage. A sourcing expert replies within one business day.Get a free quote →