GSXT is the single most powerful tool for checking any Chinese company — and it is completely free. The National Enterprise Credit Information System (国家企业信用信息公示系统) is China's official government database of every legally registered company. Yet most foreign buyers have never used it. This guide walks through exactly how to search, what each field means, and how to spot red flags before they cost you money.
What GSXT Can Tell You About Any Chinese Company
- Registration status — Is the company active, revoked, or dissolved?
- Legal representative — Who is officially responsible for the company
- Registered capital — Declared (not paid-in) capital amount
- Date of establishment — How long the company has existed
- Business scope — What activities the company is legally permitted to conduct
- Shareholders — Registered owners and their capital contributions
- Annual reports — Basic financial data filed by the company
- Administrative penalties — Fines or sanctions by government authorities
- Abnormal operations — Whether the company is on any blacklist
Step 1: Access GSXT
The site is in Chinese. Use Chrome's automatic translation or a browser translation extension if needed. No registration or login is required for basic searches.
Note on access from outside China: GSXT loads slower from overseas due to China's network infrastructure. If the site times out, wait and retry, or use a local investigation firm to run the check. The database is not blocked — it is simply hosted on China's domestic internet.
Step 2: Search for the Company
For best results, use the full Chinese company name. If you only have the English name, ask the supplier for the Chinese name. The unified social credit code (18 characters) is the most reliable search term if available.
The search box is at the top of the GSXT homepage. Enter the company name and click the search button. If multiple results appear, identify the correct company by comparing the legal representative and registered address against the supplier's documents.
Step 3: Read the Company Profile
The profile page shows all registration details. Compare every field against the documents the supplier has provided. Any discrepancy is a red flag.
| Field | How to Interpret | Red Flag |
|---|---|---|
| Company Status | 正常 = Active. 吊销 = Revoked. 注销 = Dissolved | Anything other than 正常 |
| Unified Credit Code | 18-digit unique identifier. Record it for all future checks | Mismatches with supplier's documents |
| Registered Capital | Declared amount. Check paid-in in annual report | Very high capital with 0 paid-in |
| Date of Establishment | Tells you the company's true age | Company claims more years than since establishment |
| Business Scope | Must include the products/services they are selling | Trading company claiming manufacturing |
| Registered Address | Official address on record | Virtual address or mismatches actual location |
Step 4: Check Annual Reports
Annual reports include basic financial information: paid-in capital, total assets, sales revenue, tax payments, and number of employees. A company that fails to file annual reports is flagged as "abnormal operations."
What to look for:
- Paid-in capital — How much of the registered capital was actually contributed
- Number of employees — Compare against the supplier's claims about workforce size
- Sales revenue — Does the revenue match the volume of business they claim?
- Filing consistency — Missing years or suddenly stopping filing are warning signs
Step 5: Check for Penalties and Abnormal Operations
If the company is on any blacklist, it will show here. This is one of the most overlooked but most valuable sections of GSXT.
| Status | Meaning | Risk |
|---|---|---|
| 列入经营异常名录 | Failed to file annual report or changed address without notification | Medium — company may be dormant or evading regulators |
| 严重违法失信企业名单 | Serious violations including fraud, bribery, or major regulatory breaches | High — do not transact with this company |
| 行政处罚 | Administrative penalties — fines or sanctions by government agencies | Medium-High — depends on nature of the penalty |
🔗 Part of Our Supplier Verification Series
GSXT is step one. Complete the full verification process with our pillar guide: How to Verify a Chinese Supplier Before Payment — covering bank account checks, payment structures, L/C, factory visits, and contract safeguards.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is GSXT the same as Qichacha or Tianyancha?
No. GSXT is the official government database. Qichacha and Tianyancha are third-party platforms that repackage GSXT data with additional features like company relationship mapping and risk scores. GSXT data is authoritative; third-party data is convenient. Use GSXT for official verification and third-party services for enhanced analysis.
What if GSXT shows no results for a company I am checking?
Possible causes: you entered the wrong company name, the company uses a slightly different registered name, the license has been revoked, or the company is not legally registered. Ask the supplier for their unified social credit code and search using that instead.
Does GSXT show company bank accounts or financial records?
No. GSXT shows basic financial data from annual reports (paid-in capital, revenue, tax) but does not show bank account details, internal financial statements, or credit ratings. Bank account verification requires separate steps.
Can I download a report from GSXT?
GSXT does not offer downloadable reports. You can print the web page or take screenshots as records. Some third-party services offer downloadable GSXT reports for a fee, but the official site is the primary source.
How far back does GSXT data go?
GSXT contains company records from the establishment of the system in 2014 onward. Some historical data may be available for companies established before 2014. Annual reports typically go back 5-7 years for most companies.
Can I check a Hong Kong company on GSXT?
No. GSXT covers companies registered in mainland China only. Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan have separate company registries. For Hong Kong companies, use the Companies Registry (icris.cr.gov.hk).
About the Author
Final Verdict: GSXT Is Free, Fast, and Essential
A 3-minute GSXT check can prevent losses of thousands of dollars. Every foreign buyer should make it standard practice before any payment to a Chinese supplier.
- Always verify the company on GSXT before sending money
- Cross-reference every field against the supplier's documents
- Check for abnormal operations or penalty records
- Never rely on a business license PDF alone — verify it on GSXT
- GSXT is step one of a complete verification process
Shendu Security (Guangzhou) Business Consulting Co., Ltd. — 20+ years of supplier verification in China.
Phone / WeChat: 182-0202-2525
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