The starting point of research begins with extensive literature reading, especially for those new to research. Finding comprehensive, reliable, and high-quality literature is crucial. This article will introduce some commonly used Chinese and English literature search websites to help you conduct research more efficiently. Additionally, the Embark mentoring team offers professional research guidance to help students make breakthroughs in academic research and literature organization.

Chinese Databases

1. China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI)

CNKI is one of China's largest academic literature databases and resource platforms, and a major online provider of scientific and technological information in China.

 It aggregates a vast collection of academic journals, dissertations, conference papers, patents, and more from various fields across the country. CNKI offers search, browsing, and download functionalities, providing rich academic information and services to researchers, students, and academic institutions.

Users can quickly and accurately find the required academic literature through keyword search, author search, journal search, and more. The interface is simple and clear, with easy operation. Most universities in China collaborate with CNKI, allowing free access to its extensive literature through campus networks.

2. Wanfang Data

Wanfang Data is one of the academic resource platforms under CNKI and one of the most influential academic literature databases in China.

It covers a wide range of disciplines, including natural sciences, engineering, medicine, social sciences, and humanities, providing academic journals, dissertations, and conference papers.

It not only includes a large number of domestic academic resources but also international journals and conference papers, offering users more comprehensive and authoritative academic information. Most universities in China collaborate with CNKI, allowing free access to its extensive literature through campus networks.

3. VIP Journal Database

VIP is a large Chinese journal literature service platform, offering various academic papers, sample essays, primary and secondary school courseware, and teaching materials for download.

Users can conveniently search and obtain high-quality academic literature through the VIP platform, supporting online reading and downloading. Additionally, VIP Journals provide convenient data application services, enabling online data access and statistical applications.

4. Baidu Scholar

Baidu Scholar is a professional academic resource search platform launched by Baidu, dedicated to providing users with comprehensive and authoritative academic literature search services.

It integrates paper search, plagiarism detection, academic analysis, topic analysis, scholar profiles, journal channels, and literature assistance functions. By subscribing to keywords, users can see content of interest on the homepage and receive recommendations on relevant research developments.

English Databases

5. Google Scholar

Google Scholar is a free academic literature search service provided by Google, widely used in the academic community. It is a search engine with a vast collection of academic resources, allowing users to quickly find related literature, papers, conference records, and reports by entering keywords, authors, or document titles.

 It covers multiple disciplines, including natural sciences, humanities, and social sciences, providing broad academic support for researchers. Additionally, Google Scholar offers scholar profiles, enabling users to explore researchers' interests, academic achievements, published articles, and citation counts to assess their academic impact.

6. Web of Science

Web of Science is a multidisciplinary database considered one of the most authoritative scientific literature indexing tools globally.

It includes a wide range of prestigious international academic journals, such as the Science Citation Index (SCI), Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI), and Arts & Humanities Citation Index (A&HCI), covering over 8,700 core journals. The database features citation tracking, allowing users to find related literature through a single document, providing rich resources for literature retrieval and academic research.

Users can filter highly cited papers, hot papers, and refine searches by research area, publication year, and document type to quickly find high-quality, useful articles and information.

7. Sci-Hub

Sci-Hub is an online platform offering free academic literature downloads, aimed at providing researchers worldwide with easier access to scholarly resources. Many subscription journals require payment for full-text access, often at a high cost.

Sci-Hub offers a vast array of free academic literature, including journal articles, conference papers, and theses, significantly reducing research costs.

By entering a document's DOI into the search box, users can quickly find and download the desired literature. Sci-Hub is accessible globally, unrestricted by location, allowing any internet-connected user to search and download academic documents. However, some of the latest documents may not be available for download.

8. PubMed

PubMed is a free biomedical literature database provided by the National Library of Medicine, one of the largest biomedical literature retrieval systems globally.

It includes academic resources from fields such as biomedical sciences, biology, physiology, biochemistry, and clinical medicine. Most documents are sourced from authoritative medical journals and research institutions worldwide, making it a vital information resource in the medical field.

PubMed offers robust search capabilities, allowing users to search by keywords, authors, journals, publication dates, and more, with advanced search options for more precise retrieval, enhancing search efficiency.

After familiarizing yourself with these literature search tools, you can search based on the keywords related to your research direction. When starting to learn a new field, it's recommended to first search for and read foundational literature to quickly understand the relevant knowledge and research basis. Once you have a solid knowledge base, searching for and reading advanced literature can help you better grasp the cutting-edge research in the field.

If you wish to take a bigger step in your research capabilities and academic development, Embark offers professional research guidance and training services. By collaborating with mentors from top universities worldwide, Embark helps students select precise topics, efficiently organize literature, and complete high-quality research projects. We also provide customized guidance for students participating in international research competitions, such as the Regeneron ISEF, STS, and Yau Science Awards, helping them to stand out in the academic arena.

To learn more about Embark's services, please visit the Embark website. Let's embark on your research journey together!