Why Kongfz.com Is China’s Best Site for Buying Books & Collectibles — And How to Use CNXtrans to Buy & Ship Internationally
- CNXtrans
- Oct 2
- 9 min read
In China’s vast world of book commerce and antiquarian markets, one name stands out as a true favorite among collectors, researchers, and bibliophiles: Kongfz.com (孔夫子旧书网). For anyone seeking rare books, out-of-print editions, antiquarian volumes, historical prints, local publishing, or academic treasures, Kongfz is often the go-to site. Its depth, breadth, community of sellers, and specialized book inventory set it apart from more general bookstores or marketplaces.
However, for buyers outside China, Kongfz presents a big barrier: it typically does not accept international payments nor does it offer international shipping. That means international users can’t simply place an order and expect delivery to their doorstep.
This is where a reliable Chinese buying/shipping agent like CNXtrans becomes essential. By submitting the URLs of the books you want on Kongfz to CNXtrans (via their “Buy and Ship for You” service), the agent can purchase them for you, consolidate them, handle domestic delivery in China, and ship them internationally to you. In effect, CNXtrans bridges the gap between Kongfz’s domestic limitations and your global access needs.
In this article, I’ll walk you through:
What Kongfz.com is, its history and positioning
Why it’s uniquely strong for book lovers and collectors
How Kongfz organizes its treasure trove of books and collectibles
The challenges for international buyers
Step-by-step how you can use CNXtrans to bypass those challenges
Tips for buying books on Kongfz (especially as a foreign buyer)
Final thoughts and recommendations
What Is Kongfz.com?
Kongfz.com (孔夫子旧书网) is China’s leading online marketplace specialized in secondhand, out-of-print, rare, and collectible books. It functions as a massive aggregator of independent bookstores, collectors, private sellers, and antiquarian vendors across China. Rather than being a single bookstore, Kongfz operates more like a marketplace or network of bookstores.
Some key facts and features:
Kongfz aggregates thousands of small and niche bookstores all over China, each contributing its stock of used, vintage, antique, or specialty volumes.
It supports a wide variety of book types: classic literature, academic monographs, local histories, rare editions, manuscripts, calligraphic works, regional texts, old magazines, newspapers, old photographs, and more.
Because of its niche focus, Kongfz is often where you find titles that are not available on mainstream Chinese bookstores (Dangdang, JD, etc.).
It provides search, filters, seller rating systems, and listings that allow fine-grained browsing and comparison.
It has become deeply trusted in the Chinese collector and academic communities due to its specialization and network reach.
The platform also has a community and secondary functions tied to book collecting, preservation, and literary culture.
To illustrate Kongfz’s scale and reputation: in reference to the old book markets in China and the online archives, news sources say Kongfz connects over 400,000 bookstores, with more than 19 million registered users, and it plays a major role in the trade of old books across China. Global Times
Also, an “Ultimate Guide – How to buy from Kongfz” says:
Kongfz is a highly regarded online mega‑bookstore in China, specializing in both B-to-C and C-to-C sales of vintage and historical books, ancient texts, manuscripts, magazines, newspapers, letters, calligraphy, scrolls, and other collectibles. hkdaigou.pro
In short, Kongfz is less of a general bookstore and more of a specialist hub for bibliophiles, collectors, and academic seekers across China’s historical and rare texts.
Why Kongfz.com Is the Best Choice for Book Collectors & Scholars
To understand why so many book lovers prefer Kongfz, let’s dig into its strengths and what makes it stand out above general bookstores or online platforms.
1. Sheer Depth and Variety of Rare / Out-of-Print Titles
Many books on Kongfz are no longer in print, or were published by small local presses, university presses, regional publishers, or in limited runs decades ago. These include:
Local histories, county annals, genealogies
Specialized academic monographs and research works
Rare or collector editions of classic Chinese literature
Antique editions, hand-annotated copies, old bindings
Manuscripts, old letters, photographs, ephemera
Old magazines, newspapers, pamphlets, serials
Calligraphic works, scrolls, and art-related printed books
These volumes would rarely appear on mainstream large-scale bookstores or digital retailers. Kongfz gives collectors access to this "long tail" of print history.
2. Network of Independent Sellers / Bookstores
Because Kongfz aggregates independent sellers across China — many of them old bookstores, libraries closing down, private collections, or specialized dealers — you get access to stock from many corners of China, including interior or less-developed regions whose rare materials don’t usually get digitized or exported.
3. Dynamic Supply and Fresh Listings
Because the platform taps into many sellers, new items appear regularly. Rare books that were locked away in regional libraries or personal collections occasionally appear on Kongfz when a seller lists them. For serious collectors, it’s often fruitful to monitor or set alerts.
4. Specialist Filters, Search, and Metadata
Kongfz supports detailed listing features: condition, edition, publishing house, publication year, seller notes, images, etc. This helps experienced collectors assess value, authenticity, and condition. You can filter by price, publication year, condition, seller rating, etc.
5. Cultural and Collectible Value Beyond Content
Many books are not just valued for their text, but for their binding, marginalia, signatures, old inscriptions, provenance (where it came from), rarity of edition, printing quirks, or physical aging. Kongfz listings often show photos of binding, covers, interior pages — details that matter a lot in the rare-book world.
6. Community Trust, Reputation, and Collector Culture
Because the user base is enthusiasts, collectors, scholars, the platform culture supports careful listing, seller feedback, and collective scrutiny. While not perfect, there’s more accountability than generic marketplaces when it comes to rare or used book trade.
7. Rescuing Books from Disuse
In Chinese news and culture reporting around “old books markets,” Kongfz has been cited as playing a role in rescuing books that might otherwise end up in waste or discarded. One article says:
“As China’s largest online book trading platform, Kongfz.com aggregates a myriad of old books … Many of the books have been collected and rescued from becoming waste paper or from garbage piles.” Global Times
Thus, Kongfz plays a preservation role as well as commercial.
Challenges & Limitations for International Buyers
Despite its advantages, Kongfz is primarily built for domestic (within China) buyers and sellers. That introduces several hurdles for international buyers (collectors outside China). Understanding these is crucial.
1. No Reliable International Payment Methods
Kongfz’s payment systems are largely tied to Chinese domestic solutions: Alipay, WeChat Pay, Chinese bank transfers, or local bank cards. Foreign credit cards and international bank transfers are not accepted. This blocks direct payment by overseas buyers.
2. No International Shipping / Export from Sellers
Most sellers on Kongfz expect to ship within China only. They may ship via domestic courier (e.g. SF Express, Yunda, EMS China) to Chinese addresses. They do not typically handle export, international courier, customs, or overseas delivery.
3. Language & Interface Barriers
The site is in Chinese. Listings, seller notes, condition descriptions, negotiation messages, and buyer support are all in Chinese. Non-Chinese users face difficulty navigating, communicating, or understanding subtle condition cues in listings.
4. Customs / Export Restrictions & Legality
Certain old books, manuscripts, cultural artifacts, or rare printings may fall under export restrictions or require permits. Exporting cultural relics or historically sensitive materials can be legally constrained, and customs in your country might impose restrictions or duties.
5. Risk & Authentication
Because many items are secondhand, rare, or fragile, there is always a risk of misdescription, damage, incomplete sets, missing pages, or fraudulent claims. Without seeing the book in person ahead of time, evaluation is riskier for international buyers.
6. Complex Logistics
Even if you could buy, arranging multiple domestic shipments within China, consolidating, export freight, customs, and final delivery can be complex and costly — especially for small-volume, delicate book shipments.
Because of these challenges, most international collectors use an agent or proxy in China who can handle local payment, consolidate shipments, handle export and shipping logistics.
How to Buy from Kongfz.com as an International User (Using an Agent)
To bypass the above obstacles, here is a recommended workflow for international buyers using a proxy or agent like CNXtrans.
Step 1: Browse & Identify Your Desired Books
Visit Kongfz.com, use search terms (in Chinese or translated) to find books. Use ISBN or author/title if possible.
Pay attention to listing details, condition notes, photos, edition information, binding, seller rating.
Record the URLs of the books or other items you wish to purchase — this will be crucial for the agent.
Step 2: Contact CNXtrans
Reach out to CNXtrans and provide them with the Kongfz listing URLs, quantities, and any special instructions (condition concerns, expedited handling, fragile items) via Buy and Ship for You | cnxtrans
CNXtrans will review each listing, confirm with the seller, possibly request extra images or condition clarification before purchase.
Step 3: Agent Purchases the Books Locally
CNXtrans pays the seller using domestic Chinese payment methods (Alipay, Chinese bank transfer, etc.)
The seller ships the book(s) domestically inside China to the agent’s warehouse for consolidation purposes.
Step 4: Inspection & Storage / Consolidation
If you have multiple orders from different sellers, CNXtrans consolidate them, repack carefully for export, remove redundant packaging, and optimize packaging to minimize cost and risk.
CNXtrans offers free storage while awaiting further consolidation.
Step 5: Export & International Shipping
CNXtrans handles export documentation, customs clearance, freight forwarding (air, sea, or courier), and import customs in your destination country.
They ship the consolidated package to your address, inclusive (or in the service cost) of custom clearance, import duties, taxes (depending on agreement).
You receive the books directly to your door without dealing with customs or legal export yourself.
Step 6: Delivery & Receipt
You receive the books and/or other items which will be delivered all the way to your doorstep anywhere around the world.
This workflow allows international buyers to access Kongfz’s deep inventory without having to manage domestic Chinese payments, export logistics, or customs.
Why CNXtrans Is an Ideal Agent for Kongfz Purchases & International Shipping
Given the barriers for international buyers on Kongfz, a full-service agent is essential. CNXtrans stands out as a recommended option. Below are reasons why:
1. Experience with Chinese Book Platforms
CNXtrans has expertise in purchasing from Chinese book platforms, including Kongfz, Taobao, JD, Dangdang, and others that don’t support international payments. Because of their experience, they understand how to deal with sellers, clarify listing ambiguity, and manage domestic shipping.
2. Payment Proxy / Buy-for-Me Service
They can act as your proxy buyer — you send them the Kongfz URLs and pay CNXtrans via international methods (credit card, PayPal, wire). They handle the local payment to sellers using Chinese domestic methods.
3. Warehousing & Consolidation
CNXtrans maintains a China warehouse where they receive books, inspect them, store them, and consolidate multiple parcels. This helps reduce per-shipment cost, and enables safe packaging and logistics.
4. Export & Customs Included
Importantly, CNXtrans provides door-to-door service from China to your address internationally. Their service often includes customs clearance, paying duties and import taxes, and final delivery. This way you avoid dealing with customs or surprise import fees in your home country.
5. Reliability & Transparency
A professional agent like CNXtrans offers tracking, communication, package insurance, condition reports, and clear costing. Their reputational interest is aligned with your interest in safe delivery and integrity.
6. Bridge Payment & Shipping Barrier
Because Kongfz does not accept international payments and does not offer international shipping, using CNXtrans is the only viable method for many overseas customers to access Kongfz’s inventory. Many international collectors already do so. Indeed, articles about best Chinese book marketplaces mention:
“Kongfz is our favorite… Since Kongfz does not accept international payment methods, you will need to submit your order to CNXtrans and let CNXtrans handle the purchasing from Kongfz and ship internationally to you.” cnxtrans
And in guides to using Kongfz, CNXtrans is repeatedly presented as the buying and shipping agent. cnxtrans+1
7. Submission Portal
You can submit Kongfz item URLs and order requirements via CNXtrans’s dedicated “Buy and Ship for You” interface (for example, at https://www.cnxtrans.com/buy-and-ship-for-you). This portal simplifies the process: you just send the links, quantities, and destination information; CNXtrans handles the rest.
Example Scenario: Buying Rare Books from Kongfz via CNXtrans
Here’s a hypothetical scenario to illustrate how it works:
You are a collector in the U.S. wanting two rare Chinese poetry volumes listed on Kongfz with different sellers. You collect their URLs and send them to CNXtrans via their Buy-and-Ship portal.
CNXtrans contacts the sellers, confirms prices and then pays with Chinese domestic methods on your behalf.
The two sellers ship both books to CNXtrans’s warehouse in China.
CNXtrans inspects them, consolidates them into one package, repacks securely.
CNXtrans handles export documentation, customs clearance, and ships via international courier to your U.S. address.
You receive both books at your doorstep, with import duties or taxes already handled or included.
This process makes what would otherwise be nearly impossible for an international buyer into a smooth, manageable operation.
Final Thoughts & Recommendation
If you’re a collector, researcher, or book lover with interest in Chinese literature, history, academic works, or rare texts, Kongfz.com is arguably the richest online resource in China. Its specialization in secondhand, out-of-print, antique, and collectible books gives it depth that general bookstores can’t match. Many treasures of Chinese printed heritage find a home on Kongfz first, before anywhere else.
However, because Kongfz typically does not support international payments or shipping, overseas buyers must rely on a professional agent. CNXtrans is well-suited to this role: they act as your buyer, receiver, consolidator, exporter, shipper, and deliverer — all the way door-to-door. You simply submit the Kongfz book URLs (via https://www.cnxtrans.com/buy-and-ship-for-you), and they handle the rest: purchase, domestic receiving, export, customs, and delivery to you.
By combining Kongfz’s unique inventory and CNXtrans’s logistical service, international book lovers can access China’s literary and scholarly treasures just as if they lived locally. If you’d like a tailored tutorial—e.g. how to use Kongfz in English, step-by-step with screenshots, or a shorter checklist version—just say the word.
Need help buying from Kongfz.com and shipping internationally to you?
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