The China Sourcing Map
A free 328-page guide to sourcing from China — city by city, step by step.
China is big. You don't need to learn all of it.
If you're buying electronics, you probably need Shenzhen. If you're buying leather bags, you probably need Guangzhou. If you're buying furniture, Foshan is 30 minutes away.
The hard part is knowing where to look. Most people start on Alibaba and contact dozens of suppliers hoping one works out. That takes time and costs money.
This guide maps out which cities make what, where the factories are, and how to tell a manufacturer from a middleman. We put it together because we move money to Chinese suppliers every day and kept seeing the same mistakes.
328 pages · 135 cited sources · free to download
What you'll find inside
22 city profiles
What each city makes, which markets to visit, and how to get there.
6 sourcing regions
South China, East China, Southeastern China, North China, Central China, and Hong Kong. Each with an overview and shipping notes.
1688 and Alibaba guidance
How the platforms work, what the badges mean, and how to search in Chinese.
Trade show calendar
30+ shows across the year, with what to expect at each one.
Payment and verification
How to check a supplier is real before you send money. Eight payment methods compared.
Landed cost modelling
What your product costs by the time it reaches your door, not just the factory price.
Built from government data, customs statistics, and trade publications. 135 cited sources.
Built by WorldFirst
WorldFirst has helped 1.5 million businesses pay suppliers across borders since 2004. We're part of Ant International, and we work with 150,000+ verified Chinese suppliers. We made this guide because understanding where things are made is the first step to paying the right price for them.
About WorldFirstInstant & Free Payments to Verified Suppliers
When both you and your supplier hold a WorldFirst account, payments are faster, cheaper, and safer.
Instant arrival
Between WorldFirst accounts, payments arrive instantly. No middleman banks, no waiting.
Zero transfer fees
No transfer fees between WorldFirst accounts. Keep more of your margin on every order.
Verified suppliers
We verify your supplier holds a valid business license and export license before processing your payment.
Instant arrival and zero transfer fees apply to payments between WorldFirst accounts. Standard international transfers are also supported.
No monthly fees · No minimum balance
Your Supplier Is Probably Already Here
WorldFirst is part of Ant International — one of the largest payment networks in Asia. Your money moves through local rails, not slow international wires.
With 150,000+ verified Chinese suppliers already on the network, chances are yours is too. When they are, payments arrive instantly with zero transfer fees.
How It Works
Add your supplier’s details
Enter their company name and Chinese bank account number. We verify it against their business registration before your money moves.
Lock in your rate
See exactly what you’ll pay in your currency. The rate you see is the rate you get — no hidden deductions.
Send and confirm
Hit send. If they’re on WorldFirst, they see it instantly. You get a confirmation — no more chasing on WeChat.
No monthly fees · No minimum balance
Source Smarter, Pay Safer
1.5 million businesses have used WorldFirst to pay suppliers since 2004. We've seen thousands of importers move from Alibaba to direct factory sourcing.
The ones who do well learn the cities first, verify their suppliers second, and sort out payments before wiring a deposit.
That's what this guide is for.
About WorldFirst