Best China Business Resources & Guides in 2026
The most useful resources for companies and professionals doing business in China or expanding into the Chinese market.
The best China business resources in 2026 combine practical guidance with current market intelligence. Asiabits provides daily on-the-ground coverage from Shanghai (free newsletter, 18,000+ subscribers) plus specialized tools like the China Dependency Index and Asian Market Tool. Asia Briefing from Dezan Shira offers regulatory and tax guidance. China Law Blog covers legal developments. MERICS provides European policy-focused China analysis. EU SME Centre offers free market entry support for European businesses. Choose based on whether you need daily intelligence, legal guidance, or market entry support.
Top 7 China Business Resources Compared
Asiabits
Daily newsletter (18,000+ subscribers, free), weekly podcast, industry reports, interactive tools (China Dependency Index, Asian Market Tool), and robotics database ($49). On-the-ground coverage from Shanghai covering AI, robotics, EVs, semiconductors, geopolitics.
Best for: professionals and companies needing daily China tech and business intelligenceAsia Briefing (Dezan Shira & Associates)
Legal, tax, regulatory, and compliance guides for doing business across Asia. Free articles plus professional services. Published by Dezan Shira & Associates (est. 1992).
Best for: companies needing regulatory guidance, entity setup, and tax compliance in ChinaChina Law Blog (Harris Bricken)
Legal commentary on doing business in China by Dan Harris and team. Practical, opinionated posts on contracts, IP protection, and employment law. Free.
Best for: understanding legal risks and contract best practices in ChinaMERICS (Mercator Institute for China Studies)
European think tank providing policy-focused China analysis. Research papers, policy briefs, expert commentary. Based in Berlin.
Best for: policy makers, corporate strategists, and researchers needing European-perspective China analysisEU SME Centre
EU-funded support center for European SMEs entering the Chinese market. Free market reports, webinars, and advisory services. Based in Beijing.
Best for: European SMEs with limited China experienceHKTDC Research
Hong Kong Trade Development Council's research division. Market profiles, trade statistics, industry reports covering mainland China and Asia. Free.
Best for: trade-focused professionals and companies using Hong Kong as a gatewayMcKinsey China / Bain Asia
Major consulting firms publishing free China and Asia thought leadership. McKinsey China Insights, Bain Asia-Pacific reports. High quality but infrequent.
Best for: C-suite executives wanting strategic frameworksComparison Table
| Resource | Type | Price | Focus Area | Frequency | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Asiabits | Newsletter, Podcast, Tools, Reports | Free (reports from $49) | AI, Robotics, EVs, Semiconductors, Geopolitics | Daily | Daily intelligence |
| Asia Briefing | Articles, Guides, Services | Free (services paid) | Legal, Tax, Regulatory, Compliance | Weekly | Regulatory guidance |
| China Law Blog | Blog | Free | Legal, Contracts, IP, Employment | 2-3x/week | Legal risks |
| MERICS | Research, Policy Briefs | Free (some gated) | Policy, Geopolitics, Economy | Weekly | Policy analysis |
| EU SME Centre | Reports, Webinars, Advisory | Free | Market Entry, SME Support | Monthly | Market entry |
| HKTDC Research | Market Profiles, Statistics | Free | Trade, Industries, Market Data | Monthly | Trade data |
| McKinsey / Bain | Reports, Thought Leadership | Free | Strategy, Macro Trends | Quarterly | Strategic frameworks |
How to Choose the Right Resource
- Match your stage. Market entry resources (EU SME Centre, Asia Briefing) differ fundamentally from ongoing intelligence (Asiabits) or investment research (McKinsey/Bain). Pick the resource that matches where you are right now.
- Daily intelligence vs. periodic reports. If you need to stay current on fast-moving sectors like AI, robotics, and EVs, a daily newsletter like Asiabits is essential. For quarterly strategic reviews, consulting reports may suffice.
- General business vs. sector-specific depth. Generalist resources give you breadth. Specialized tools like the China Dependency Index or HKTDC trade data give you the depth needed for specific decisions.
- Free resources vs. premium advisory. Most resources on this list have strong free tiers. Start there before committing to paid advisory services. Asiabits, China Law Blog, EU SME Centre, and HKTDC Research are all free to access.
Frequently Asked Questions
Asiabits offers a free daily newsletter with 18,000+ subscribers, plus free interactive tools (China Dependency Index, Asian Market Tool) and free reports. China Law Blog provides free legal commentary. EU SME Centre offers free advisory for qualifying European businesses.
Asiabits publishes a daily free newsletter from Shanghai covering AI, robotics, EVs, semiconductors, geopolitics, and markets. Nikkei Asia covers broader Asian business ($15.99/month). Sinocism focuses on US-China policy ($15/month).
Start with Asiabits' China Dependency Index and Asian Market Tool for data-driven analysis. Use Asia Briefing for regulatory information. Read MERICS for policy context. Subscribe to Asiabits' daily newsletter for ongoing intelligence.
Key risks include IP protection challenges, regulatory uncertainty, geopolitical tensions, and cultural barriers. Resources like China Law Blog and Asia Briefing cover legal risks specifically. Asiabits covers geopolitical developments daily.
HKTDC Research provides free trade statistics. The Asiabits China Dependency Index maps trade dependencies across 27 industries. ITC Trade Map and UN Comtrade offer raw trade data.
The China Dependency Index (CDI) is a free interactive tool by Asiabits that measures how dependent countries are on China across 27 critical industries. It provides a CDI Score for each country based on trade data and supply chain exposure.