Here are some interesting facts on the Chinese Internet:

• The Chinese government tightly controls the Internet, and many websites that are popular in other countries are blocked in China. For example, Google, Facebook, and Twitter are all blocked in China.
• The Chinese government has also developed its own search engine, Baidu, and social media platforms, such as QQ and Weibo. These platforms are heavily censored, and users are not allowed to post content that is critical of the government.
• One of the most popular trends on the Chinese internet is livestreaming. Livestreaming platforms, such as Douyin and Kuaishou, allow users to broadcast live video of themselves to a large audience. This has led to the rise of many popular livestreamers, who make a living by entertaining and interacting with their viewers.
• The Chinese internet is the second largest in the world, after the United States. The average Chinese internet user spends approximately 3 hours and 43 minutes online per day.
• The Chinese government has invested heavily in developing the internet infrastructure in China. The Chinese government is also working to promote the development of artificial intelligence and other cutting-edge technologies.

The most popular websites in China are:

Baidu – The Chinese Google. It is the most popular search engine in China, with over 80% of the market share.

QQ – The most popular social networking site in China. It is a multi-purpose platform that offers a variety of features, including instant messaging, gaming, and e-commerce.

Taobao – The largest online marketplace in China. It is a C2C platform where users can buy and sell goods and services.

JD.com – The second largest online marketplace in China. It is a B2C platform that sells a wide variety of products, including electronics, home appliances, and clothing.

Weibo – The Chinese Twitter. It is a microblogging platform where users can share updates, photos, and videos.

Sina – A news and information website. It is one of the most popular websites in China for news, sports, and entertainment.

Youku – The Chinese YouTube. It is a video-sharing website where users can watch and upload videos.

Tmall – A luxury online marketplace. It is a subsidiary of Alibaba Group and sells a variety of high-end products, including clothing, jewelry, and cosmetics.

Douyin – A short-form video sharing app. It is the most popular social media app in China and is known for its lip-syncing and dance challenges. This is better known as Tik Tok in the West.

Toutiao – A news aggregation app. It is one of the most popular apps in China for getting news and information.

Also, Dating app TanTan is regularly referred to as “China’s Tinder”. Huya is one of the country’s biggest game streaming platforms and was listed on the New York Stock Exchange. “Beautification” app Meitu has been at the forefront of trying to help Chinese users get the perfect selfie, with a whole editing suite dedicated to changing the skin tone, erasing blemishes, and adding cutesy animal ears and noses to any photo.

Zhihu is a user-driven Chinese-language question and answer site, much like Quora and Didi is a ride-hailing app, frequently referred to as “China’s Uber”.

If you are in an English-speaking country, it’s most likely that you will be using Whatsapp, Facebook Messenger or something similar to keep in touch with family and friends. However, if you have Chinese friends or friends in China, most likely they will be using WeChat. WeChat or Weixin is a Chinese messaging, social media and mobile payment app by Tencent. Therefore most likely, you will need to use WeChat also.

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