Ask for the Chinese business licence and search the exact Chinese company name or unified social credit code in the National Enterprise Credit Information Publicity System. Match the legal name, status, address, legal representative and business scope against the contract, seal, invoice and bank beneficiary.
Use the Chinese legal identity
A brand, website domain or English company name is not enough. Chinese companies are registered under a Chinese legal name. Transliteration varies, and several businesses may use similar English names. The 18-character unified social credit code is often the most reliable starting identifier.
Request and compare
- Clear copy of the current business licence.
- Full Chinese company name and unified social credit code.
- Registered address and legal representative.
- Company status and date of establishment.
- Business scope relevant to the proposed activity.
- Contracting entity, company seal and invoice issuer.
- Bank-account beneficiary and explanation for any mismatch.
Check official registration information
The National Enterprise Credit Information Publicity System is the official national entry point for market-entity information. Some features may require real-name verification or a Chinese interface. Search results can show basic registration, annual reports, administrative penalties, abnormal-operation listings and serious-illegality information, subject to availability.
A company being registered does not prove product quality, solvency, export ability or honesty. Equally, a limited business scope does not answer every legal question about capacity. The purpose of the check is to identify inconsistencies and decide what further verification is proportionate.
Look for mismatches
Contract versus bank account
If the contract names Company A but payment is requested to Company B or an individual, ask for a documented explanation before paying. The manufacturer, exporter and trading company may legitimately differ, but the relationship should be clear.
Seal versus legal name
Check whether the Chinese characters on the seal correspond to the registered entity. A scan alone cannot establish authenticity, and different specialised seals may be used for different purposes.
Website claims versus records
Statements such as “group company,” “official manufacturer,” “government partner” or “authorised exporter” should be verified independently where material to the transaction.
When a deeper check may be justified
Consider additional professional verification for a large advance payment, exclusive distribution arrangement, valuable tooling, regulated goods, acquisition, litigation decision or repeated inconsistencies. Depending on scope, this may involve a lawyer, licensed credit provider, inspection company, accountant, customs professional or local verification service.
Records can change, public information may be incomplete, and a genuine company can still default. Combine entity verification with contract protection, staged payment, inspection and practical control of shipping documents.
What to send with an enquiry
Provide the Chinese company name, unified social credit code if known, business licence, website, proposed transaction, payment beneficiary and the specific question you need answered. Redact unnecessary bank details and personal identifiers.
How Zenlect China Desk can help
Zenlect can perform a clearly scoped desktop check using lawful public records, compare the registered entity with the documents you provide and summarize relevant inconsistencies. Where the request requires legal analysis, licensed credit reporting, formal evidence collection or another regulated service, Zenlect coordinates the appropriately qualified provider. Zenlect does not obtain private data, conduct surveillance or locate individuals.