A GitHub US Stock Guide Tailored for Chinese Beginners, Recommended to Bookmark

Recently I came across two GitHub repositories that are great for beginners looking to invest in US stocks.

Especially if you’re still torn between choosing a traditional broker or an exchange-based platform for US stock exposure.

Many people think buying US stocks is just placing an order on an app. But at the very least, you need to understand three things:

1. Are you using a traditional broker or an exchange-based platform?
2. Are you buying the actual stock or stock-related exposure/tokens/derivatives?
3. Who bears the risks of deposits, withdrawals, taxes, regulation, and compliance?

These two GitHub repositories cover US stock investing from perspectives like broker account opening, bank accounts, deposits and withdrawals, tax compliance, CRS/FATCA, W-8BEN, etc.

• Chinese Guide to Investing in US Stocks
https://github.com/zgwl/chinese-buy-us-stock-guide…

• 2026 Guide for Mainland Chinese Residents: US Stock Account Opening and Fund Transfers
https://github.com/neclo0752/China-US-Stock-Guide…

Although it leans towards traditional broker paths, it’s very helpful for ordinary users to understand the differences between various ways of buying US stocks.

Regardless of whether you end up choosing a broker, an exchange-based platform, or other US stock exposure products,

it’s recommended to first clarify: what exactly are you buying, where is your money held, who regulates it, how to withdraw, and who bears the risk.

zgwl/chinese-buy-us-stock-guide

Source: https://github.com/zgwl/chinese-buy-us-stock-guide

Chinese Guide to Investing in US Stocks

An educational guide on US stocks written for mainland Chinese investors, covering account opening, taxes, compliance, choosing a broker, deposits and withdrawals, trying to explain the rationale and risks behind each step.

This series is purely educational and does not constitute any investment, tax, or legal advice. Policies in this area change quickly, so much of the information may already be outdated. Please verify everything yourself before taking action.

The main content was last revised in May 2026; subsequent changes are covered in updates.

Table of Contents

Reading Suggestions

The nine chapters are roughly arranged in the order of “first understand the rules, then invest your money, finally safely withdraw it.” You can also read selectively:

• Beginners are advised to read Chapter 2 (Tax) and Chapter 3 (Compliance) first. Understanding how the country taxes and what risks you can tolerate is far more important than rushing to open an account.
• To actually open an account, read Chapter 1 (Account Opening), Chapter 4 (US Brokers), and Chapter 5 (Bank Deposits). This covers the traditional “bank to broker” route.
• If you find too few accounts available, read Chapter 8 (US Tax ID). Some banks and brokers are already open to Chinese; with an ITIN you can open even more.
• If traditional channels don’t work, consider Chapter 6 (Crypto Deposits). This is an advanced option with high understanding threshold and compliance risk; most people won’t need it.
• To get your money back, read Chapter 7 (Withdrawals), focusing on estate tax and compliance risks of each withdrawal path.
• If you just want the conclusion, jump to Chapter 9 (Summary).
• If you’ve already read the main content and just want to follow policy and channel changes, read the Update.

If you need to contact me, follow me on X/Twitter and send a DM, @zoudaoxingchen (https://x.com/zoudaoxingchen)