How to find a Chinese factory you can actually buy from

Finding a factory is matching, not scrolling. Listings on Alibaba or 1688 are a map of the category. Identity, capacity, and who will still pick up the phone after a deposit are desk work. Sourcing Center maps 10,000+ factories across 150+ industries from Xiamen; Chinese makers apply at factory registration, which is not a public marketplace.

How the desk shortlists

License and entity, factory vs trader, whether the line actually makes your SKU, sample from 1 unit, then verification and optional visit. Read how to source from China and factory verification. If you already have a 1688 link, send it; we can still walk the maker.