How to Find and Buy Chinese Books on Kongfz.com: The Complete Guide for International Readers
- CNXtrans
- Sep 14
- 5 min read
For readers, researchers, and collectors around the world, Chinese books are an invaluable gateway into one of the world’s oldest and richest civilizations. Whether you are a scholar of Chinese history, a language learner, or simply a book lover fascinated by Chinese literature, the challenge often lies in how to actually buy Chinese books from China and have them shipped overseas.
One of the most popular platforms for sourcing Chinese books—both new and secondhand—is Kongfz.com (孔夫子旧书网). However, international customers often run into significant roadblocks when trying to order directly. This article will serve as your comprehensive, step-by-step guide to finding and purchasing books on Kongfz, with practical tips on navigating the website, searching effectively, and ultimately securing international shipping with the help of a trusted freight forwarder like CNXtrans.
By the end of this guide, you’ll know exactly how to:
Search for Chinese books effectively on Kongfz.com.
Understand how sellers on Kongfz operate.
Overcome the challenge of payment and international shipping.
Use CNXtrans as your one-stop solution for buying and shipping Chinese books worldwide.
What is Kongfz.com?
Kongfz.com (孔夫子旧书网) is China’s largest and most trusted online marketplace for books. Founded in 2002, it is essentially the Chinese equivalent of AbeBooks or Alibris, specializing in:
Secondhand books (旧书): Rare, out-of-print, or used books.
Antiquarian and collectible books: Historical texts, limited editions, calligraphy, manuscripts.
New books: From small independent sellers or large publishers.
Academic works: Covering history, philosophy, economics, literature, and more.
The platform brings together thousands of individual booksellers, small shops, and collectors across China, making it a treasure trove for researchers, libraries, and enthusiasts seeking hard-to-find Chinese books.
Why Buy Chinese Books on Kongfz.com?
International buyers turn to Kongfz.com for several reasons:
Unmatched selection – Many books available on Kongfz are not listed on Amazon, Taobao, JD.com, or even Chinese publishing houses’ official stores.
Access to rare editions – Antiquarian works, early prints, and out-of-print texts are often only available through secondhand sellers on Kongfz.
Academic resources – For scholars studying Chinese history, literature, or philosophy, Kongfz is a goldmine of scholarly publications.
Affordability – Many secondhand titles are priced significantly lower than their new counterparts.
Direct connection with sellers – Kongfz connects you with individual shop owners and collectors, meaning you can often negotiate or request specific items.
Challenges of Buying from Kongfz as an International Customer
Despite its huge potential for international readers, Kongfz presents some serious obstacles:
Language barrier – The site is entirely in Chinese.
Search limitations – Romanized (pinyin) searches don’t always work well; you often need to input Chinese characters.
Payment restrictions – Sellers on Kongfz typically only accept Chinese payment methods such as Alipay or WeChat Pay.
No international shipping – Most sellers only ship within mainland China.
Complex logistics – Buying multiple books from different sellers can mean multiple domestic shipments, which is costly and inefficient without consolidation.
This is why using a freight forwarding and purchasing agent like CNXtrans becomes essential for overseas buyers.
How to Search for Books on Kongfz.com
Navigating Kongfz.com can be daunting at first, but with the right approach, you’ll quickly be able to find the titles you’re looking for.
1. Use Chinese Characters
Search results are far more accurate when you use Chinese characters rather than English or pinyin. For example:
Instead of “Romance of the Three Kingdoms,” search 三国演义.
Instead of “Confucian Analects,” search 论语.
If you don’t know the Chinese title, try looking it up on Baidu or Wikipedia first.
2. Search by ISBN
If you have the ISBN, simply paste it into the search bar. This ensures precise results, especially for modern publications.
3. Explore Categories
Kongfz organizes books into detailed categories, including:
文学 (Literature)
历史 (History)
哲学与宗教 (Philosophy & Religion)
艺术 (Art)
教育 (Education)
旧书/古籍 (Old & Antiquarian Books)
Browsing by category is particularly useful if you’re interested in rare or collectible books.
4. Use Advanced Filters
Kongfz allows filtering by:
Price range
Publication year
Seller rating
Binding type (hardcover, paperback)
This helps you narrow down your search, especially when thousands of results appear.
Understanding Sellers on Kongfz
Every book listed on Kongfz is sold by an individual seller or small shop. Some key points:
Seller Ratings: Each seller has a reputation score based on past transactions. Always choose sellers with high ratings.
Condition Descriptions: Pay attention to book condition notes (全新 = brand new, 九成新 = 90% new, 有笔记 = with annotations, etc.).
Multiple Copies: Some popular titles are available from multiple sellers; compare prices and shipping.
Step-by-Step: How International Buyers Can Purchase Books from Kongfz
Since Kongfz does not support international orders, here’s the exact process international buyers can follow:
Search and select books on Kongfz.com. Copy the URLs or screenshots of the listings.
Submit your order to CNXtrans via their “Buy and Ship for You” service page: https://www.cnxtrans.com/buy-and-ship-for-you.
CNXtrans places the orders with the sellers on your behalf using local Chinese payment methods.
Books are delivered to the CNXtrans warehouse in China from the different sellers.
Consolidation: CNXtrans consolidates your books into one shipment to save on costs.
International shipping: CNXtrans ships your books via air courier (fastest), air freight (cost-efficient for bulk), or sea freight (best for large library-scale shipments).
Door-to-door delivery: Your shipment arrives at your home, office, or institution anywhere in the world.
Why Use CNXtrans for Buying and Shipping Books from Kongfz?
When it comes to sourcing books internationally from China, CNXtrans stands out as the most reliable and efficient partner. Here’s why:
1. Overcoming Payment Barriers
Kongfz sellers only accept Chinese payment methods. CNXtrans bridges this gap by paying sellers on your behalf, eliminating the biggest hurdle for international buyers.
2. Consolidation of Orders
If you purchase from 10 different Kongfz sellers, CNXtrans will receive all those shipments at their warehouse, consolidate them, and ship them together. This drastically reduces international shipping costs.
3. Multiple Shipping Options
Air courier (DHL, FedEx, UPS, etc.) – Fastest for smaller shipments.
Air freight – Cost-effective for medium-to-large orders.
Sea freight – Best for libraries, institutions, or bulk shipments of hundreds of books.
4. Global Reach
CNXtrans delivers to any country worldwide, including North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Africa, and Latin America.
5. Door-to-Door Service
Unlike some freight forwarders that only deliver to ports, CNXtrans ensures your books are delivered straight to your address.
6. Experience with Academic and Collectible Shipments
CNXtrans regularly helps researchers, libraries, and collectors source specialized books from Kongfz. They understand the importance of safe handling and reliable delivery.
Tips for International Buyers Using CNXtrans
Prepare a list of books with Kongfz URLs before submitting to CNXtrans.
Consider shipping weight: Books are heavy; consolidate multiple purchases to minimize cost per book.
Communicate clearly with CNXtrans about your preferred shipping method (fastest vs. cheapest).
Order early if you need books for a semester or research project, as rare books may take time to source.
The Best Way to Buy Chinese Books from Kongfz
Kongfz.com is without doubt the go-to platform for Chinese books—from modern academic titles to rare antiquarian treasures. But for international readers, ordering directly is not possible due to payment restrictions and lack of global shipping.
That’s where CNXtrans comes in as the ultimate solution. By handling the entire process—purchasing on your behalf, consolidating shipments, and arranging international delivery—CNXtrans makes it seamless to order books from Kongfz.com no matter where you are in the world.
If you’re ready to start building your Chinese book collection, simply head to:
Submit your Kongfz book order, and let CNXtrans take care of the rest. Whether you’re a scholar, student, collector, or casual reader, CNXtrans ensures your Chinese books arrive safely, affordably, and directly to your door.
Need help buying from Kongfz.com and shipping internationally to you?
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