Trying to find someone in China? Start broad, then narrow by sheng (province/region), shi (prefecture-level city), and qu/xian (district/county). Prioritize official portals and city-level directories, then corroborate with internet sources. You can also jump to our international people search hub or begin from the free people search homepage.
China’s population is ~1.41 billion. Around ~1.07–1.10 billion people are online (~74–78% internet penetration), with social media identities surpassing ~1.0 billion at the start of 2025. Urban concentration (Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei, Yangtze River Delta, Pearl River Delta) and ubiquitous mobile use make internet and mobile-first tactics highly effective. Source: DataReportal 2025 — China.
Best Ways to Find Someone in China
Official Government Sources
Start at the State Council portal gov.cn for ministries and provincial links, and the citizen-services hubs run by each city/province. Household registration (hukou) and ID matters are handled by local Public Security Bureaus; see the Ministry of Public Security at mps.gov.cn. For company verification, use the official National Enterprise Credit Information Publicity System (gsxt.gov.cn) to confirm legal names, Unified Social Credit Codes, and registered addresses. Court information and selected judgments are available via China Judgments Online and the Supreme People’s Court portal court.gov.cn. Always verify any hit through multiple sources before outreach.
Phone and Telecom Clues
Country code is +86. Mobile numbers are 11 digits and typically start with “1” (e.g., 13x/15x/18x/19x). From abroad, dial +86 + the full mobile number (no trunk prefix). For landlines: +86 + area code (1–3 digits; examples: 10 Beijing, 21 Shanghai, 20 Guangzhou, 22 Tianjin, 23 Chongqing, 29 Xi’an, 27 Wuhan, 571 Hangzhou, 25 Nanjing, 28 Chengdu) + local number. China supports mobile number portability nationwide. The regulator is the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (miit.gov.cn). For published listings, try carrier “114” directory services or business directories, then corroborate via the internet (company pages, maps, social profiles).
Property Addresses & Tax Records
Property ownership in mainland China is recorded at local Real Estate Registration Centers (Bùdòngchǎn Dēngjì) and is usually accessed in person or by parties with standing. For address confirmation, combine the State Taxation Administration (chinatax.gov.cn) resources, city e-government portals (often listing bureaus/offices with addresses and contacts), and mapping platforms. In major cities, notaries (gōngzhèng) and neighborhood committees may help validate unit numbers for lawful purposes. Cross-check with business registries (GSXT) and reputable directories before contacting anyone.
Internet & Online Sources
Given the sheer size of the online population, internet-first pivots are essential. Search the full name in quotes plus city/district (“张伟” “朝阳区”), and add role keywords (工程师, 老师, 销售). Sweep Chinese-language platforms and local media sites using site: filters on .gov.cn/.edu.cn news and city portals. Check business-info aggregators (Qichacha, Tianyancha) for company roles and contact clues, and cross-reference with mapping and social profiles (e.g., WeChat public accounts, Douyin/Weibo profiles where available). Validate each discovery using at least one official or reputable source (GSXT filing, court notice, or a government/enterprise directory page).
Regional Directories & Local Listings
Mainland China has provinces, autonomous regions, municipalities, and numerous prefecture-level cities subdivided into districts and counties. If you know the province/municipality, narrow to the city (shi) and then to the qu/xian. Municipal portals often publish bureau/office directories, school rosters, and public-service contact lists. Chambers of commerce and industry associations maintain member lists that can anchor a name to a location. Always mirror local leads with an online verification pass to reduce confusion with common surnames like Wang, Li, Zhang, and Liu.
Professional & Investigative Help
If free sources stall, consider a licensed local investigator or law firm with experience in on-the-ground checks (business license verification, neighborhood canvassing, archival lookups). Respect China’s privacy and data-protection frameworks and use only lawful methods—then re-verify results online. In apartment compounds, property management (wùyè) offices and gatehouses can be effective intermediaries when approached courteously and with legitimate reasons.
7 Steps to Find People in China
Helpful Tools (External)
Gov.cn — State Council portalMPS — Public Security (police) portalGSXT — National enterprise credit registryMIIT — Numbering & telecom regulatorChina Post — Postal codes & trackingSupreme People’s Court — Court portalsChina Judgments Online — Selected judgmentsState Taxation Administration — Tax & invoicesWorld Association of Detectives — Find a licensed PIMore Information
Top Cities
Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Chengdu, Hangzhou, Nanjing, Wuhan, Xi’an, Tianjin, Chongqing, Harbin, Shenyang, Qingdao, Suzhou, Zhengzhou, Changsha, Kunming, Ningbo, Xiamen.
Provinces / Regions
Beijing, Shanghai, Tianjin, Chongqing (municipalities); Hebei, Shanxi, Liaoning, Jilin, Heilongjiang, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Anhui, Fujian, Jiangxi, Shandong, Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Guangdong, Hainan, Sichuan, Guizhou, Yunnan, Shaanxi, Gansu, Qinghai (provinces); Guangxi, Inner Mongolia, Tibet, Ningxia, Xinjiang (autonomous regions); Hong Kong, Macao (Special Administrative Regions).
30 Popular Names & Surnames
Wei, Fang, Jun, Lei, Qiang, Jie, Yan, Min, Na, Jing, Xia, Yong, Tao, Bo, Xin, Ting, Hao, Rui, Ying, Yue, Wang, Li, Zhang, Liu, Chen, Yang, Huang, Zhao, Wu, Zhou. Sources: common surnames & forenames in China via Forebears and Forebears forenames.
Common Postal Codes & Dialing Codes
Beijing 100000 — +86 10; Shanghai 200000 — +86 21; Guangzhou 510000 — +86 20; Shenzhen 518000 — +86 755; Chengdu 610000 — +86 28; Hangzhou 310000 — +86 571; Nanjing 210000 — +86 25; Wuhan 430000 — +86 27; Xi’an 710000 — +86 29; Tianjin 300000 — +86 22; Chongqing 400000 — +86 23; Harbin 150000 — +86 451; Shenyang 110000 — +86 24; Qingdao 266000 — +86 532; Suzhou 215000 — +86 512; Zhengzhou 450000 — +86 371; Changsha 410000 — +86 731; Kunming 650000 — +86 871; Ningbo 315000 — +86 574; Xiamen 361000 — +86 592. Sources: China 6-digit postal codes via China Post and public references; numbering plan via MIIT and public references.