Do You Know About China’s Knock-offs?

Counterfeit products like knock-off Sprite, fake Oreo cookies, and copied phone accessories are rampant in China, with imitation products being sold in stores and on sidewalks. Everybody knows China’s Knock-offs are a bargain. But are they worth it?

The term used for Chinese counterfeit products is 山寨 (Shānzhài).

The literal meaning of 山寨(Shānzhài) is “stockaded village mountains.” Nowadays 山寨(Shānzhài) is more commonly used to indicate copied products. 

Origin of 山寨(Shānzhài)

Why do Chinese people use mountain villages to indicate copied products? Everybody says something different. Some people say the term山寨(Shānzhài) first came from Shenzhen. 

In the 1990s, some people smuggled cell phones to Shenzhen, which developed into imitations. The factories that produced these copies didn’t dare print “Shenzhen” on these cell phones, so they stamped them with the pinyin letters of Shenzhen—“SZ.” Over time, this came to be called Shānzhài.

Some people say that the term 山寨(Shānzhài) originates from Hong Kong and it means “irregular” in Cantonese. In Hong Kong, small-scale factories are known as “mountain village factories.” The products they produce are known as “mountain village goods.” No matter how you tell the story, nowadays, 山寨(Shānzhài) has become synonymous with copied products.

A pattern of many factories that produce copied products is to give what they produce a name that echoes those of the big brands. They then imitate the design of the big brands to make consumers mistakenly think these products are from big brands. 

Fake Instant Noodles, Soda, and Cookies

For example, all Chinese people know the instant noodle brand—“Master Kang” (康師傅). Some factories imitate Master Kang’s trademark and make 康師博“Kang Shuai Bo” instant noodles. Consumers may mistake it for the real thing if they are not careful. 

In the same way, the copy of the beverage “Sprite” is changed to “Lei Bi.” Imitation Oreo cookies are changed into “Yue Li Yue.” Faked “Lao Gan Ma” chili sauce is changed to “Lao Yu Ma,” and so on. 

These fake goods are cheap and are often sold in small towns and rural areas.

Chinese View of 山寨 (Shānzhài)

Everyone has their own thoughts about “山寨” (Shānzhài).

Some people believe that Shanzhai products are not counterfeit, but rather replicas. While some products may be of low quality, others — particularly cell phone accessories — may meet or even exceed the original quality standards. Additionally, some Shanzhai products may include new features that have been added to meet the demands of consumers.

The cost of these items is low, and there is no issue with their quality. However, many people still consider them to be knockoffs, which is a serious violation of intellectual property rights and can harm the reputation of legitimate manufacturers. Additionally, counterfeit products often lack a guarantee of quality and are generally unreliable, despite their low price. 

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