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How to buy, sell and invest in Chinese stocks from the UK
Disclaimer: The information in this article is for reference purposes only. Wise does not offer to buy or sell stocks, and all information on this page should not be considered financial advice. All investment decisions should be made after thorough research and consultation with a qualified financial advisor. Remember that investments, even in low-risk funds, are never guaranteed and your capital is at risk.
Interested in investing in the Chinese stock market? You might be aiming to diversify your portfolio, or have your eye on a particular company listed on either the Shanghai Stock Exchange (SSE) and Shenzhen Stock Exchange (SZSE).
However, trading Chinese stocks as a UK investor isn’t quite as straightforward as it is for UK and US stock exchanges. But we’re here to help, with a handy guide covering everything you need to know.
We’ll look at which UK online trading platforms offer the option to buy Chinese stocks directly, along with info on opening a trading account and calculating the costs.
We’ll also cover the Wise account. A handy multi-currency account which could help you save on foreign exchange fees when buying or selling international stocks.
So, let’s get started.
How to invest in Chinese stocks from the UK
There are a few ways you can invest in Chinese stocks as a UK investor, but it isn’t as simple as buying shares in UK or US listed companies.
The first thing to know is that only a limited number of trading platforms let you buy shares in Chinese companies directly.
What’s more, many stocks (such as Chinese A-shares listed on mainland stock exchanges) aren’t available to private international investors. This is because the Chinese government has pretty strict rules on foreign investment in its companies.1
You may be able to use a specialist broker, although bear in mind that fees may apply. Alternatively, you can invest in a professionally-managed investment fund such as an exchange-traded fund (EFT) which contains shares in Chinese companies.
Buying shares in a Chinese company from the UK
While you can buy shares in the UK from stock markets worldwide, China isn’t quite as open to international investors.
Some UK online trading platforms do let you trade Chinese stocks online, through programs such as Hong Kong - China Stock Connect. This is a mutual market access scheme which lets international investors use the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong (SEHK) to trade shares listed on both the Shanghai Stock Exchange (SSE) and Shenzhen Stock Exchange (SZSE).2
In some cases, Chinese companies are listed on other stock exchanges, such as the London Stock Exchange (LSE), New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) or NASDAQ. This offers an easier way to invest in them, as you can simply buy shares in the US or UK using your favourite online investment platform.
If you choose either of these routes, you’ll simply need to find the right platform, create an account, add a linked payment method, and then start placing orders for trades.
Alternatively, you can use the service of a broker (extra fees are likely to apply).
You may also want to look into investing in ETFs which contain stocks in Chinese companies.
However, before you start trading, it’s important to carry out a few crucial cost calculations to make sure you’re factoring in fees and currency conversion costs. We’ll cover all of that next.
How to buy Chinese shares in the UK: Step-by-step
Now, let’s run through the steps involved in buying shares in a Chinese company as a UK-based investor.
1. Open a share trading account
There are lots of investment platforms available in the UK, but only a couple that offer direct trading in Chinese stocks.
These include:
- Interactive Brokers
- Saxo.
For other platforms, you may be able to invest in Chinese stocks through Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs) or other investment products.
It’s a good idea to do some research on providers, comparing fees, features and customer reviews, and choose the right one for you. You can usually open a trading account in just a few simple steps, although there are often additional identity verification processes to complete.
Remember, always check that the company is registered with the FCA (the Financial Conduct Authority - the UK’s financial regulator) to ensure that they are a legitimate company.
2. Calculate the cost
Your chosen trading platform will tell you how much your shares will cost, but you also need to factor in fees and currency conversion costs.
Platforms may charge annual fees, or per-transaction commission fees for trading.
It’s also worth remembering that when buying Chinese shares directly, the transaction is likely to be carried out in Chinese yuan (CNY). This means that your British pounds (GBP) will need to be converted to CNY somewhere along the way, which may incur foreign currency fees.
To give you an idea of these costs, here are the fees charged by the UK platforms which support direct trading in Chinese stocks:
| Platform | Account fees | Chinese trade (commission) fees | Foreign exchange fees |
|---|---|---|---|
| Interactive Brokers | None | 0.01% to 0.08% depending on trade value3 | Varies |
| Saxo | None (but custody fees apply) | 0.03% to 0.08% depending on account tier4 | 0.25%5 |
Note: All above investment platform fees were correct as of 7th July 2025.
Foreign exchange fees for buying international stocks can often be high enough that they can start eating into your return. To avoid these, it could be a good idea to use a Wise account.
With Wise, you can open a CNY account and hold your money until you’re ready to buy (or sell). Then you can trade directly in CNY on your chosen investment platform. When you need to convert money to GBP or into CNY, you can take advantage of Wise’s low fees* and mid-market exchange rates.
3. Decide which Chinese shares to purchase
The last step is to decide which Chinese shares to purchase, and then place the order. You might want to get some professional advice on which companies to invest in.
Selling or trading shares in a Chinese company from the UK
Now we come to the steps involved in selling shares in Chinese companies from the UK, using an online trading platform.
1. Open a share trading account
If you’ve bought shares, it’s likely that you already have a share trading account. But if you’ve acquired them through another means, such as through inheritance or an employee share scheme, you’ll need to open an account.
Check out one of the options we’ve listed above, making sure to compare prices, features and reviews before signing up. Remember to have some form of photo ID handy in case you’re asked to verify your identity.
2. Understand how much tax you need to pay
When you sell shares in another country, you may need to know what is known as ‘withholding taxes’ or capital gains tax on the income.
And for income earned outside of an ISA or other tax-efficient wrapper, you may also have to pay Capital Gains Tax (CGT) in the UK.
Tax can be complicated, especially when trading and earning income between two countries. It’s recommended to get professional tax advice to help you understand your obligations.
3. Calculate the cost
When selling Chinese shares, there are a few costs to consider. These include commission or trading fees charged by the platform, along with currency conversion fees.
💡Remember - you can avoid some of these by opening a Wise account and holding your money in CNY until you’re ready to sell/trade your shares.
Here are some of the fees charged by platforms offering international share dealing:
| Platform | Chinese trade (commission) fees | Foreign exchange fees |
|---|---|---|
| Interactive Brokers | 0.01% to 0.08% depending on trade value1 | Varies |
| Saxo | 0.03% to 0.08% depending on account tier4 | 0.25%5 |
Note: All above investment platform fees were correct as of 7th July 2025.
Opening hours of international stock markets
| Stock exchange | Local trading times6 | GMT trading times6 |
|---|---|---|
| Shanghai Stock Exchange (SSX) | 09:30-15:00 | 01:30-07:00 |
| Shenzhen Stock Exchange (SZSE) | 09:30-15:00 | 01:30-07:00 |
| Hong Kong Stock Exchange (HKEX) | 09:30-16:00 | 01:30-08:00 |
| Tokyo Stock Exchange (TSE) | 09:00-15:00 | 00:00-06:00 |
| London Stock Exchange (LSE) | 08:00-16:30 | 08:00-16:30 |
| New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) | 09:30-16:00 | 14:30-21:00 |
| NASDAQ | 09:30-16:00 | 14:30-21:00 |
| Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) | 10:00-16:00 | 00:00-06:00 |
| Frankfurt Stock Exchange (FSX) | 08:00-20:00 | 07:00-19:00 |
Don’t let currency conversion trip you up when trading - use Wise
Here, we’ve looked at how to buy Chinese stock in the UK. We’ve covered everything you need to know to get started, including platforms which offer direct trading in Chinese stocks, costs to consider and info on currency conversion when trading shares in another currency.
If you trade in different currencies, you could be hit with extra costs for cross border money transfer.
The good news is that you can use Wise to avoid hidden currency exchange markups. Open a Wise account to convert currency at mid-market exchange rates, for low, transparent fees*.
Why not hold your money in a Wise account until you decide to invest it in your chosen platform. Set up exchange rate alerts with Wise to be notified via email or push notification when the rate drops to your chosen threshold.
You can also use your Wise account to conveniently manage your money in currencies, sending payments to 140+ countries at the mid-market rate for low fees*. There’s also a dedicated secure service for sending large amounts.
There’s even an extra feature, Wise Interest. With Wise Interest you can earn returns on GBP, USD and EUR by opening a Wise account and invest for as little as £1, $1 or €1 in a fund that holds government-guaranteed assets. Growth not guaranteed. Capital at risk.
Capital at risk. Growth not guaranteed. Wise Assets UK Ltd is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority with registration number 839689. When facilitating access to Wise investment products, Wise Payments Ltd acts as an Introducer Appointed Representative of Wise Assets UK Ltd. Please be aware that we do not offer investment advice, and you may be liable for taxes on any earnings. If you’re uncertain, we urge you to seek professional advice. To find out more about the Funds, visit our website.
You may also be interested in the following articles:
Sources used:
1. Finder - how to invest in Chinese stocks from the UK
2. Interactive Brokers - Hong Kong - China Stock Connect
3. Interactive Brokers- commissions
4. Saxo - transaction fees - stocks
5. Saxo - charges and fees
6. CMC Markets - stock market trading hours
Sources last checked on date: 07-Jul-2025
*Please see terms of use and product availability for your region or visit Wise fees and pricing for the most up to date pricing and fee information.
This publication is provided for general information purposes and does not constitute legal, tax or other professional advice from Wise Payments Limited or its subsidiaries and its affiliates, and it is not intended as a substitute for obtaining advice from a financial advisor or any other professional.
We make no representations, warranties or guarantees, whether expressed or implied, that the content in the publication is accurate, complete or up to date.
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