How to Shop from China? Start with a Chinese Shipping Address

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 We don’t know how long Trump’s tariffs and the ongoing trade war with China will last. But as an American, you’re probably tired of paying extra fees for almost everything you buy. Whether it’s your Amazon account, TikTok shop, Temu, or even AliExpress—prices are going up across the board.

Due to tariffs, many Chinese-made products are no longer easily accessible, even though they’ve become essential in our daily lives. So the big question is: How can you shop directly from China? The answer lies in one key step—getting a Chinese shipping address. Once you’ve figured that out, you’ll be able to shop like a local.


Hi, I’m Kris.

I want to share my personal experience of shopping from China. It’s truly convenient—and Chinese products are incredibly affordable. I’ve gone through the entire process, and now I want to help you do the same. Once you learn what I’m about to show you, you’ll be able to enjoy all the benefits of shopping directly from China.

What Do You Need to Shop from China?

At first, I had no idea what I needed. I stumbled upon a TikTok video from Gonest, which opened my eyes to a world of cheaper luxury goods and everyday products from China. That’s how I joined this shopping trend—but like you, I had no clue what to prepare.

You're in luck, though. I’ve figured it out for you.

Here’s what you need:

  1. A Chinese shipping address – Without this, you can’t make any purchases from local platforms.

  2. A freight forwarding service – There are many options, but I’ll recommend the one I personally use.

  3. A valid payment method – Don’t worry, one Alipay account is all you need. You’ll need to link your card and verify your identity.

  4. A Chinese shopping platform – I recommend using 1688.com, which supports English.

As you can see, it’s not much different from shopping on Amazon—just a few extra steps at the beginning.

How to Get a Chinese Address?



You’ll receive a Chinese shipping address once you sign up with a freight forwarding company. I highly recommend Gonest for a few reasons:

  • They offer 180 days of free storage, which allows you to buy multiple items over time and then ship everything together in one box.

  • Their customer service is top-notch. They helped me solve every issue I encountered.

All you have to do is register on their website, and your personal Chinese address will be generated.

How to Fill Out a Chinese Address?

Once you’ve chosen a shopping platform (like Taobao), you’ll enter the Chinese address provided by your forwarding company. However, filling out a Chinese address isn’t as straightforward as it is in the U.S.

Taobao only supports Chinese, which made things challenging for me at first. But the Gonest support team walked me through each step. I’ll also write a dedicated article with screenshots to guide you further.

If you're using Taobao too, here’s the screenshot guide Gonest sent me during my first purchase.

How to Shop on Taobao?

It’s actually quite simple—just like shopping on Amazon.

  1. Add your desired items to the cart.

  2. Proceed to checkout.

  3. Select the Chinese address you saved earlier.

  4. Choose Alipay as your payment method.

And you're done!

The Most Important Step: How to Get Your Items Delivered to the U.S.

To avoid shipping issues, you must follow these steps carefully.

  1. Register every parcel in your freight forwarding account. For Gonest, you’ll need to create an account and get a UID (User ID)—an 8-digit number used to track your packages. You can easily log in using your Google account.

  2. After you buy something, go to your Gonest account, find the "Add Package" feature, and input your parcel details.

  3. Once all parcels arrive at their warehouse, you can combine them into one shipment and request a shipping cost calculation.

Gonest will either refund any overpaid shipping costs or ask for a small additional payment if needed.

You can choose between:

  • Air shipping (faster but more expensive; ideal for small packages),

  • Sea shipping (slower but much cheaper; great for large packages).

Once payment is completed, Gonest will handle customs clearance and home delivery.

What Items Can’t Be Shipped?

Due to tariff regulations, some products are heavily restricted and likely won’t make it through U.S. customs. Avoid buying:

  • Perfumes

  • Electronics

  • Anything with a built-in battery

These items are often blocked during inspection.

What If I Ordered Something I No Longer Want?

Mistakes happen. If you accidentally buy an item that can’t be shipped—or simply don’t want anymore—Gonest can help.

They’ll guide you through the return and refund process, even helping you send the item back to the original seller. Their team can get your money back so you don’t lose a penny.

Final Thoughts: Step-by-Step Recap + Useful Links

Let’s summarize the entire process with some helpful links:

  1. Register a freight forwarding account – I recommend Gonest (their signup page).

  2. Choose a shopping platform – Try 1688.com, which supports English.

  3. Use your Chinese address – Fill it out carefully and confirm with customer service if needed.

  4. After shopping, wait 2–3 days and log your parcels in your forwarding account.

  5. Once all items arrive, choose your shipping method, input your U.S. address, pay for shipping, and wait for delivery.

They’ll handle customs and ensure everything arrives at your doorstep safely.

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