Chinese Video Sites You Need to Know About

China has a thriving video sharing landscape, with several popular platforms that cater to different tastes and preferences.

iQIYI is a leading video sharing site in China, with over 500 million monthly active users. It offers a vast library of content, including TV dramas, movies, and variety shows.

Bilibili is another popular video sharing site in China, known for its anime and manga content. It has over 150 million monthly active users and offers a range of features, including live streaming and community forums.

Youku is a Chinese video sharing site that offers a wide range of content, including TV dramas, movies, and variety shows. It has over 200 million monthly active users and is one of the largest video sharing sites in China.

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You can find a variety of popular video sites in China, each with its unique features and user base.

Youku, for instance, has an attractive base of 500 million monthly active users who view over 800 million videos daily.

Douyin, on the other hand, has the most monthly active users of the video platforms mentioned, with 766.5 million users.

iQiyi Video also boasts a wide range of content, including TV shows, movies, and documentaries, with around 696 million monthly active users.

Youku is the most popular video site in China, with 500 million monthly active users viewing over 800 million videos daily.

After YouTube was banned in 2009, Youku took on the role of Chinese YouTube.

Youku focuses on providing an amazing experience to its users, making speed one of its trademarks.

Users can search, access, post, and share videos rapidly and seamlessly on Youku.

An extensive use of artificial intelligence and data collection allows Youku to tailor its content to each individual user.

Douyin (ByteDance) is a domestic video-sharing platform in China, catering to the unique needs and preferences of Chinese users.

It has emerged as one of the most popular video platforms in China, with 766.5 million monthly active users, the most among all video platforms mentioned in this article.

Douyin is often compared to TikTok, also owned by ByteDance, and is known for its short vertical video and social commerce platform.

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It started in September 2016 and has scored more than 300 million users, all of whom are based in China.

The platform's popularity can be attributed to its accessibility, making it easy for users to create and share short videos directly from the app.

Since 2018, Douyin has become the most downloaded iOS app.

Douyin's livestreaming service has revolutionized the way products are introduced to potential buyers, utilizing an interest-based e-commerce model to create a seamless journey from sparking initial interest to completing a purchase.

Luxury brands like Louis Vuitton and Gucci have found great success using this social commerce platform.

Douyin offers attractive features like the Flagship Store and Global Choice, further solidifying its position as both a personal and commercial platform.

This unique combination of features has contributed to Douyin's success as a powerful tool for businesses looking to engage with their audience and drive sales.

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Chen Rui was appointed CEO and chairman of the board of Bilibili in November 2014, bringing his experience as an early member of the community to the role.

He started watching anime on the platform in 2010, a year before he met Xu Yi, who convinced him to become the company's earliest investor.

Bilibili announced its sponsorship of the Shanghai Sharks basketball team in October 2016, renaming it the Shanghai Bilibili team due to their shared origins in Shanghai.

In December 2017, Bilibili purchased an e-sports team called IM for League of Legends and renamed it Bilibili Gaming (BLG).

The company expanded its e-sports presence by purchasing the broadcasting rights to several major League of Legends competitions in January 2018.

In the same year, Bilibili filed for an initial public offering of up to US$0.4 billion on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), later listing on the NASDAQ on March 28, 2018.

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iQiyi is another major video-streaming platform in China, offering a diverse range of content, including movies, dramas, variety shows, and documentaries. It is known for its high-quality original programming and exclusive partnerships with international studios.

With around 696 million monthly active users on its SaaS platform, iQiyi is a force to be reckoned with in the Chinese video market. Its user base is massive, to say the least.

iQiyi Video boasts a wide range of content, including TV shows, movies, and documentaries. This makes it an excellent option for those looking to expand their viewing options.

The platform also provides users with an array of features, including the ability to create watchlists, rate videos, and leave comments on videos. These features make it easy to engage with the content and connect with other users.

iQiyi Video also has a social media component, allowing users to follow other users and see what they are watching. This social aspect adds a fun element to the platform, making it more than just a place to watch videos.

Bilibili is a unique video platform in China that relies heavily on user-generated content (UGC). This approach has made it one of the most dynamic and vibrant video platforms in the country.

Bilibili offers a variety of features that set it apart from other video platforms. One of its most popular features is the "bullet screen" feature, which allows users to add live comments to videos while watching them. This feature has become particularly popular with live-streaming videos.

The platform has also introduced new categories such as mobile gaming, advertising, and e-commerce, but its most viewed videos are still related to anime from Japan. Bilibili is well known for its commenting feature called Danmu, which allows viewers to post a comment at any time during the video.

Bilibili has a strong community aspect, with its official mascots elected by the community, Bili-tans, named "22" and "33". The platform also has affiliated communities, including Corari, a collaboration project founding community, and DrawYoo, a creative drawing community.

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Tencent is a major player in the Chinese tech scene, with one of its most notable ventures being Tencent Video. It has around 117 million paying subscribers as of Q1 2025.

Tencent Video is closely connected to WeChat, a social media giant, which has contributed to its rapid growth. Being one of the ten most downloaded apps is no small feat.

One interesting aspect of Tencent Video is its integration with WeChat, allowing users to easily embed videos into their content. This has become a necessity for WeChat users and owners of WeChat Official Accounts.

Tencent Video boasts a vast library of licensed content, including movies, dramas, and variety shows, as well as user-generated content and live streaming.

Bilibili is primarily a video platform catering to anime lovers in China, launched in 2009. The platform has expanded to include categories like mobile gaming, advertising, and e-commerce.

Bilibili's commenting feature, Danmu, allows viewers to post comments at any time during a video, which can become crowded and hectic when thousands of people are watching simultaneously.

The Danmu feature encourages social interaction and is highly appreciated by most Bilibili users, making it a unique aspect of the platform.

In 2019, Bilibili announced a partnership with Sony-owned Funimation to jointly license anime titles for both the US and Chinese markets.

This partnership marked a significant step for Bilibili, expanding its reach and offerings to a wider audience.

On 9 April 2020, Sony Corporation of America acquired a 4.98% minority stake in Bilibili for $400 million, valuing the company at $8 billion.

Bilibili's valuation at the time was a testament to its growing influence and popularity.

In August 2020, Bilibili produced the show "Rap for Youth", marking its foray into original programming.

The company continued to push into original content, producing a competition programme for voice actors called "Voice Monster" in December 2020.

Bilibili also launched Bilibili Video Satellite in September 2020, further expanding its reach and offerings.

In 2021, Bilibili acquired Shanghai Yarun Culture Communications Co., Ltd, the parent company of animation studio Haoliners Animation League and its subsidiaries.

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This acquisition gave Bilibili a significant boost in its animation capabilities and offerings.

On 23 March 2021, Bilibili announced it would raise $2.6 billion on the Hong Kong stock exchange, its secondary listing.

This listing marked a significant milestone for the company, further establishing its presence in the global market.

Bilibili was listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange at an opening price of $790 on 29 March 2021.

Membership on Bilibili is limited to balance the quality of its users and moderation capacity.

Most content on Bilibili is free for anonymous viewing, while some videos require a membership.

To become a premium member, users need to submit videos or comments, which requires a membership.

In the past, Bilibili required users to complete 100 questions to become a premium member, but this was reduced to 50 questions in 2015.

However, in 2017, Bilibili reinstated the 100-question test, with a passing threshold of 60.

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Bilibili's premium membership costs around ¥25 per month, or approximately US$2 per month on a long-term subscription.

Premium members get access to videos in high resolution and can receive early access to certain videos, alongside other benefits such as discounts on Bilibili-owned games.

From 1 January 2018, Bilibili extended its early access programme to premium members, giving them early access to certain episodes of animated series.

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Bilibili Elementary School is a notable initiative by Bilibili, a Chinese video-sharing platform. It was announced on June 26, 2019.

Bilibili formed a deep cooperation with "Teach for China" to build an elementary school in a village of Dali, Yunnan. This partnership aims to provide support for teachers' humanity, environment, and school equipment.

The school will also benefit from Bilibili's advantages in providing curriculum resources such as art, science, and innovation. This will enrich the video course resources of art, science, and innovation in the school.

Bilibili's support will help cultivate comprehensive literacy in the students, making them well-rounded individuals.

Bilibili's community is a vibrant and interactive space where users can engage with each other through various features.

The site's official mascots, "22" and "33", are elected by its community, known as Bili-tans.

Bilibili has established affiliated communities, including Corari, a collaboration project founding community, although it's currently offline.

DrawYoo is a creative drawing community where users can share their artistic talents.

The Ninth Channel is a support forum for Bilibili users, providing a space for discussion and help.

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Cai Xukun was chosen as a spokesperson of the NBA in January 2019, sparking controversy.

His introduction video from Idol Producer, which involved him playing basketball, went viral and led to hundreds of parody videos appearing on Bilibili.

The parody videos mocked the original video, prompting Cai to issue a lawsuit notice asking Bilibili to remove them.

Bilibili refused to penalize the users who uploaded the parody videos, citing that they believed the videos were not illegal.

The lyrics from the video, such as "sing, dance, rap, basketball", became viral as well, further fueling the controversy.

To prevent potential backlash and spam from users, Bilibili temporarily halted the verification of new accounts.

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Douyin (TikTok) has become a global phenomenon, with over 300 million users in China and a staggering 766.5 million monthly active users worldwide.

Its popularity can be attributed to its user-friendly interface, allowing users to create and share short videos directly from the app. Douyin's short-form video format has made it a favorite among young people, who are often more likely to consume short-form content.

Douyin's e-commerce features, such as its livestreaming service and interest-based model, have also made it a powerful tool for businesses looking to engage with their audience and drive sales. Luxury brands like Louis Vuitton and Gucci have found great success using this social commerce platform.

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Lu Ke is a short video app offered by Taobao, a shopping marketplace owned by Alibaba. Its main focus is to improve and support the e-commerce experience of its users.

Users on Lu Ke can upload videos and images of their goods to quickly interact with potential buyers through the platform. This feature allows buyers to purchase products with just one click.

Lu Ke's president, Jiang Fan, has expressed confidence in the platform's success, declaring that Taobao's content could be 90% videos in the future.

Douyin is China's most popular short video and social commerce platform, with 766.5 million monthly active users.

It's no surprise that Douyin has become a household name, especially among younger generations in China. The app has been around since September 2016 and has seen tremendous growth, with over 300 million users in China alone.

One of the reasons for Douyin's success is its accessibility, making it easy for well-known Key Opinion Leaders (KOLs) to promote products and result in direct sales. For instance, a recent livestreaming event featuring NBA star James Harden led to 10,000 bottles of wine being sold in just 10 seconds.

Douyin's e-commerce features, such as the Flagship Store and Global Choice, have further solidified its position as a powerful tool for businesses looking to engage with their audience and drive sales.

iQiyi Video is a popular video platform in China, offering a wide range of content including TV shows, movies, and documentaries.

It also provides features such as creating watchlists, rating videos, and leaving comments on videos, as well as a social media component.

Some of the most popular video platforms in China include iQiyi Video, which offers a unique selection of foreign content.

Youku, China's YouTube Alternative, is a video-sharing platform with a massive following, boasting 500 million monthly active users. These users view over 800 million videos daily, making it a go-to platform for entertainment and information.

After YouTube was banned in China in 2009, Youku took on the role of the country's primary video-sharing platform. This was a pivotal moment for Youku, which has since become a household name in China.

Youku focuses on providing a seamless and rapid experience for its users, allowing them to search, access, post, and share videos quickly and efficiently. This is made possible by the platform's extensive use of artificial intelligence and data collection.

With its impressive user base and commitment to speed and efficiency, Youku is the most popular and widely used video site in China.

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Xigua is a Chinese video site that prioritizes content produced by professionals, unlike many Western video sites where the distinction between ad content and professional content is becoming increasingly blurred. This means you'll find more high-quality, in-depth content on Xigua.

The average video content on Xigua exceeds two minutes, which is different from many other video platforms where shorter content is more common. This makes Xigua an ideal platform for promoting brand awareness.

Xigua is a great platform for influencers, offering a space for them to share their content with a dedicated audience.

Meipai is one of China's most popular video messaging apps, with over 170 million monthly users. It offers a wide range of features and allows users to do more than send videos to friends and family.

Meipai has a built-in editor that lets users add filters, text, and other effects to their videos. This makes it a great tool for creators to share their work with a broader audience.

Meipai combines the best aspects of social media, video editing, and messaging into one convenient app, making it no wonder it has become so popular in China.

Kuaishou is a popular video platform in China, especially in less developed areas. It was initially a GIF maker, but now users can upload short videos and even have live streaming sessions.

Kuaishou has gained significant traction, with over 673 million monthly active users (MAUs) and nearly US$4 billion in revenue during the second quarter of 2023. This is largely due to its unique user base and product offerings.

The platform primarily serves users in lower-tier cities and small towns, making it an exciting opportunity for brands looking to reach this demographic. In fact, less prominent regions like Hubei, Fujian, and Yunnan have seen a substantial 10% increase in consumer goods sales.

Kuaishou's user-friendly interface and robust suite of features make it well-suited for vloggers, gamers, and other content creators who want to build a rapport with their audience. It offers several editing tools that enable users to enhance their videos with filters, music, and other effects.

Users can create and share videos of up to 10 minutes in length, making them ideal for short-form content. The platform also has a live streaming feature that allows users to interact with their viewers in real-time.

Big companies like Tencent, Baidu, and Alibaba have invested in Kuaishou, suggesting that this video platform will continue to grow.

Bilibili's real-time captioning system is a standout feature, displaying user comments as scrolling subtitles that resemble a danmaku shooter game. These are called bullet comments, danmu, or danmaku, and offer various subtitle controls, including style, format, and movement.

Users can also create translated and soramimi subtitles, or special effects with carefully formed subtitles. Bilibili's platform also offers advanced subtitles, where users can use an ECMAScript-based API to control video playback, dynamically change danmaku subtitles and draw shapes on the screen.

On Bilibili, comments usually move from right to left on a video, and if viewers don't want to be distracted, they can disable them. Registered users have a character limit of 120 and may edit the size and color of their comments.

Bilibili's programming team was quite small in 2012, consisting of just nine members. These team members were all experts in Japanese language and culture.

Xu Yi, one of the team members, was a web developer. In fact, two team members were web developers, which was a crucial part of the platform's development.

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Bilibili's real-time captioning system is a standout feature, displaying user comments as scrolling subtitles overlaid on the screen, visually resembling a danmaku shooter game.

These comments are called bullet comments, danmu, or danmaku, and offer various subtitle controls, including style, format, and movement.

Registered users who have passed a verification check and have a phone number tied to their account can post danmaku, but non-registered users are limited to 20 characters.

Registered users have a character limit of 120 and may edit the size and color of their comments.

Users can also create translated and soramimi subtitles, or special effects with carefully formed subtitles.

Bilibili's platform also offers a feature called "advanced subtitles", where users can use an ECMAScript-based API to control video playback, dynamically change danmaku subtitles and draw shapes on the screen.

This functionality is only available with the video poster's permission.

Tencent Video offers a live-streaming feature that allows users to watch live events and broadcasts, providing a unique viewing experience.

The platform is also one of the few video platforms in China that offers 4K resolution, providing users with a high-quality viewing experience.

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Chinese video sites have come a long way since their inception, and Bilibili's success is a testament to that.

I've noticed that the rise of Chinese video sites can be attributed to their ability to cater to niche audiences, as seen in the case of Bilibili's focus on anime and comic content.

The key to their success lies in their ability to provide high-quality content, as evident in the article's mention of Bilibili's impressive video library.

One of the most impressive features of Chinese video sites is their social aspect, allowing users to interact with each other through live streaming and comments, as demonstrated by Bilibili's live streaming capabilities.

Their social features also enable users to build a community around their shared interests, creating a sense of belonging and engagement that keeps users coming back for more.

The Chinese video site landscape is highly competitive, with multiple platforms vying for users' attention, but Bilibili's unique approach has helped it stand out from the crowd.

Ultimately, Chinese video sites have the potential to revolutionize the way we consume and interact with online content, and Bilibili's success is a shining example of that potential.

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