The main channel generally refers to the Xinhua Bookstore system (that is, state-owned units), and the secondary channel refers to individual books (private company bookstores).

Wholesalers generally recommend large book wholesalers, for example, all provinces have book wholesale markets, where all merchants wholesale books. Retailers refer to retail bookstores distributed in various regions of the city.

Wholesalers do both wholesale and retail, while retailers only do retail, generally not wholesale.