What is a China AIC and Why is it Important?

Here we will explain what a China AIC is and why they’re important for anyone who does business in China.

AIC stands for Administration for Industry and Commerce. In essence it’s the national organization that governs all industry and commerce in China. In terms of the USA, think of it as the Federal Trade Commission and the Department of Commerce all in one.

The AIC also has local offices in every region and just about every major city in China. Thus, the suppliers you work with are governed by the rules and regulations of their local AIC.

However, some of local AIC websites look like they’re combining to form one big national database, but it’s still worth trying to look for the local AIC first.

How is a China AIC Helpful to Me?

The China AICs can be very useful when trying to verify that a potential supplier is indeed a legitimate business entity. But don’t break out the confetti and champagne just yet. Like almost anything in China, there’s a catch.

It’s all in Chinese.

• Registered name

• Registration number

• Legal representative

• Registered address

• Registered capital

• Actual paid-up capital

• Business status

• Business type

• Shareholders

• Business scope

• Annual returns

• Date of establishment

• Period of operation

• Registering authority

• Processing authority

• Business registration changes

So if you know Mandarin, or can decipher the translation, this information can be put to good use!

How Do I Find the AIC for a Specific Region?

You’re going to want to start your search for companies in their local region, and the AIC that has jurisdiction over it. Here is a list of all AIC websites for each region in China.

How Good is the Information on Chinese Suppliers?

It’s usually very accurate, but there is some lag time in the frequency in which they’re updated.

So if you’re trying to verify and vet potential suppliers, this website is a goldmine….IF you can read Chinese. What many sellers do is hire a Chinese-speaking virtual assistant via Upwork that helps them with this.

Quick Tip: If you want to go this route, make sure when you post your job on Upwork, that you specify you want a Chinese person with experience working for wither a logistics company or a factory. This way, they can usually get you much more pertinent information, as they know where additional resources can be accessed to aid you in your verification quest (bank accounts, insolvency, customs house registration, etc)

List of Chinese AIC Websites

Here is a comprehensive list of various national AND regional Chinese AIC company search websites.

National Company Search Website

• National Search Website: http://www.gsxt.gov.cn/

Regional Company Search Websites

• Anhui (安徽): http://ah.gsxt.gov.cn/

• Beijing (北京): http://bj.gsxt.gov.cn/

• Chongqing (重庆): http://cq.gsxt.gov.cn/

• Fujian (福建): http://fj.gsxt.gov.cn/

• Gansu (甘肃): http://gs.gsxt.gov.cn/

• Guangdong (广东): http://gd.gsxt.gov.cn/

• Guangxi (广西): http://gx.gsxt.gov.cn/

• Guizhou (贵州): http://gz.gsxt.gov.cn/

• Hainan (海南): http://hi.gsxt.gov.cn/

• Hebei (河北): http://he.gsxt.gov.cn/

• Heilongjiang (黑龙江): http://hl.gsxt.gov.cn/

• Henan (河南): http://ha.gsxt.gov.cn/

• Hubei (湖北): http://hb.gsxt.gov.cn/

• Hunan (湖南): http://hn.gsxt.gov.cn/

• Inner Mongolia (内蒙古): http://nm.gsxt.gov.cn/

• Jiangsu (江苏): http://www.jsgsj.gov.cn:58888/province/

• Jiangxi (江西): http://jx.gsxt.gov.cn/

• Jilin (吉林): http://jl.gsxt.gov.cn/

• Liaoning (辽宁): http://ln.gsxt.gov.cn/

• Ningxia (宁夏): http://nx.gsxt.gov.cn/

• Qinghai (青海): http://qh.gsxt.gov.cn/

• Shaanxi (陕西): http://sn.gsxt.gov.cn/

• Shandong (山东): http://www.sdxy.gov.cn/

• Shanghai (上海): http://sh.gsxt.gov.cn/

• Shanxi (山西): http://sx.gsxt.gov.cn/

• Sichuan (四川): http://sc.gsxt.gov.cn/

• Tianjin (天津): http://tj.gsxt.gov.cn/

• Xinjiang (新疆): http://xj.gsxt.gov.cn/

• Yunnan (云南): http://yn.gsxt.gov.cn/

• Zhejiang (浙江): http://zj.gsxt.gov.cn/

• Xizang (西藏): http://xz.gsxt.gov.cn/

AIC Office Websites

These are the websites of each relevant AIC office, which include a much wider range of information and news (in Chinese).

Main National Chinese AIC Website

• National Office Website (国家工商总局): http://www.saic.gov.cn

Regional Chinese AIC Websites

• Anhui (安徽省工商行政管理局): http://www.ahaic.gov.cn/

• Beijing (北京市工商行政管理局): http://www.hd315.gov.cn

• Chongqing (重庆市工商行政管理局): http://www.cqgs12315.cn

• Fujian (福建省工商行政管理局): http://www.fjaic.gov.cn/

• Gansu (甘肃省工商行政管理局): http://www.gsaic.gov.cn/

• Guangdong (广东省工商行政管理局): http://www.gdgs.gov.cn/

• Guangxi (广西红盾网): http://www.gxhd.com.cn/

• Guizhou (贵州省工商行政管理局): http://www.gzaic.org.cn/

• Hainan (海南省工商行政管理局): http://aic.hainan.gov.cn/

• Hebei (河北省工商行政管理局): http://www.hebgs.gov.cn/

• Heilongjiang (黑龙江省工商行政管理局): http://www.hljaic.gov.cn/

• Henan (河南省工商行政管理局): http://www.haaic.gov.cn/

• Hubei (湖北省工商行政管理局): http://www.egs.gov.cn/

• Hunan (湖南工商红盾信息网): http://www.hnaic.net.cn/

• Inner Mongolia (内蒙古工商行政管理局): http://www.nmgs.gov.cn/

• Jiangsu (江苏省工商行政管理局): http://www.jsgsj.gov.cn

• Jiangxi (江西省工商行政管理局): http://www.jxaic.gov.cn/jx/dxzsy.html

• Jilin (吉林红盾网): http://www.jlgs.gov.cn/

• Liaoning (辽宁省工商行政管理局): http://www.lngs.gov.cn/

• Ningxia (宁夏工商行政管理局): http://www.ngsh.gov.cn

• Qinghai (青海省工商行政管理局): http://www.qhaic.gov.cn/

• Shaanxi (陕西省工商行政管理局): http://www.snaic.gov.cn/

• Shandong (山东省工商行政管理局): http://www.sdaic.gov.cn/

• Shanghai (上海市工商行政管理局): http://www.sgs.gov.cn

• Shanxi (山西省工商行政管理局): http://www.sxaic.gov.cn/

• Sichuan (四川省工商行政管理局): http://www.scaic.gov.cn/

• Tianjin (天津红盾信息网): http://www.tjaic.gov.cn/

• Xinjiang (新疆工商行政管理局): http://www.xjaic.gov.cn/

• Yunnan (云南红盾信息网): http://www.ynaic.gov.cn/

• Zhejiang (浙江省工商行政管理局): http://www.zjaic.gov.cn/

• Xizang (西藏工商行政管理局): http://www.xzaic.gov.cn/

Local Chinese AIC Websites

• Changchun (长春市工商行政管理局): http://www.ccgs.gov.cn/

• Changsha (长沙市工商行政管理局): http://www.csaic.gov.cn/

• Chengdu (成都市工商局): http://www.cdgs.gov.cn/

• Dalian (大连市工商行政管理局): http://www.dlgs.gov.cn/

• Dandong (丹东市工商行政管理局): http://www.ddaic.gov.cn/

• Dongying (东营红盾信息网): http://www.dygs.gov.cn/

• Fuzhou (福州市市场监督管理局): http://www.fz.fjaic.gov.cn/

• Guangzhou (广州红盾信息网): http://www.gzaic.gov.cn/

• Guilin (桂林市工商行政管理局): http://www.glsgsj.com/

• Guiyang (贵阳市工商红盾信息网): http://www.gyaic.gov.cn/

• Haikou (海口市工商行政管理局): http://www.hkaic.gov.cn/

• Hangzhou (杭州市市场监督管理局): http://www.hzscjg.gov.cn/

• Harbin (哈尔滨市市场监督管理局): http://www.hrbmsa.gov.cn/

• Hefei (合肥市工商行政管理局): http://www.hfaic.gov.cn

• Jinan (济南市工商行政管理局): http://www.jngsj.gov.cn/

• Hohhot (呼和浩特市工商行政管理局): http://www.hhhtgs.gov.cn/

• Kunming (昆明市工商红盾信息网): http://www.kmaic.gov.cn/

• Lanzhou (兰州市工商行政管理局): http://www.lzhd.gov.cn/

• Nanchang (南昌市市场监督管理局): http://www.ncsgj.gov.cn/

• Nanjing (南京市工商局): http://www.njgs.gov.cn/

• Nanning (南宁市工商行政管理局): http://gsgl.nanning.gov.cn/

• Ningbo (宁波市市场监督管理局): http://www.nbaic.gov.cn/

• Qingdao (青岛市工商行政管理局): http://www.qdaic.gov.cn/

• Shenzhen (深圳市市场监督管理局): http://www.szscjg.gov.cn/

• Shenyang (沈阳市工商行政管理局): http://www.sygsj.gov.cn/

• Shijiazhuang (石家庄市工商行政管理局): http://www.sjzgs.gov.cn/

• Taiyuan (太原市工商行政管理局): http://www.tyaic.gov.cn/

• Urumqi (乌鲁木齐工商行政管理局): http://ws.xjaic.gov.cn/

• Weihai (威海市工商行政管理局): http://www.wh-aic.gov.cn/

• Wenzhou (温州市市场监督管理局): http://www.wzmsa.gov.cn/

• Wuhan (武汉市工商行政管理局): http://www.whhd.gov.cn/

• Wuxi (无锡市工商行政管理局): http://gsj.wuxi.gov.cn/

• Xi’an (西安红盾信息网): http://www.xags.gov.cn/

• Xiamen (厦门市市场监督管理局): http://www.xm.fjaic.gov.cn/

• Zhengzhou (郑州市工商行政管理局): http://www.zzgs.gov.cn/

Is There an Easier Way to Get This Information?

In short, it’s a good habit to verify each supplier you are thinking about utilizing to ensure that you don’t get scammed. China is the manufacturing capitol of the world with literally tens of thousands of factories and trading companies. Along with this impressive number of suppliers comes more than a few shady, disreputable, and questionable businesses that end up scamming millions of dollars every year from foreign buyers who neglect to do their due diligence when researching potential business partners in China.

The price you’ll pay for NOT verifying a potential supplier is NOTHING compared to what it could cost you if you don’t! We’ve seen it happen to other customers who end up calling us in a panic begging us to try and help them out of an almost hopeless situation. Don’t let that be you!