China Daily
China's leading English-language newspaper and news site.
China Daily at a glance
China Daily is a news & media website and one of the most visited sites in China, currently ranked #105 in the country. It was founded in 1981 by Chinese State and is headquartered in Beijing, China. Today China Daily is owned by China Daily Group. Our estimates put its audience at ≈ 60 million visits per month. The business earns money mainly through advertising, government funding. Its closest rivals include xinhuanet.com, globaltimes.cn, cgtn.com.
Traffic statistics
Traffic history
| Period | Visits | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Q1 | ≈ 56.4 million / month | +2% |
| Q2 | ≈ 58.2 million / month | +3% |
| Q3 | ≈ 60 million / month | +3% |
| Q4 | ≈ 63.6 million / month | +6% |
Traffic sources
- Direct37%
- Organic search34%
- Social18%
- News aggregators8%
- Email3%
Audience & demographics
- Men55%
- Women45%
- Age 35-4426%
- Age 45-5423%
- Age 25-3422%
The audience is concentrated in China, skewing urban and mobile, with usage peaks in the evening hours.
Geographic reach
- China86%
Home market
- Diaspora and neighbouring markets7%
- Europe3%
- North America2%
- Rest of world2%
SEO profile
- Estimated organic traffic
- ≈ 18 million visits / month
- Branded share of search
- High — brand terms lead the keyword profile
- Indexed pages
- Large — category, listing or article level
- Primary search market
- China
Top organic keywords
| Keyword | Position | Volume | Traffic share |
|---|---|---|---|
| china daily | 1 | Very high | Dominant |
| breaking news | Top 10 | High | — |
| today's headlines | Top 10 | High | — |
| live coverage | Top 10 | High | — |
Backlink profile
- Referring domains
- Tens of thousands
- Link profile
- News coverage, directories, blogs and partner sites
- Authority
- High within the China web
Top referral sources
- News and media31%
- Directories and aggregators24%
- Blogs and forums20%
- Partner sites14%
- Other11%
Technology stack
Website technologies
Advertising & analytics technologies
Stack details are inferred from public front-end signals and engineering communications; internal systems may differ.
Mobile app statistics
Available in the local store
Available in the local store
- App share of traffic
- ≈ 79% mobile
- Position in country
- Among the leading news & media apps in China
Company information
- Website
- chinadaily.com.cn
- Sector
- News & Media
- Owner
- China Daily Group
- Owner type
- State-owned company
- Founders
- Chinese State
- Founded
- 1981
- Headquarters
- Beijing, China
- Employees
- 2,000+
- Ownership
- China Daily Group controls the platform. Ownership details are based on public filings and press reporting.
- Revenue
- ≈ $200 million annual revenue (est.)
- Languages
- English, Chinese
- Top traffic sources
- direct, organic search, social
Financials
- Revenue
- ≈ $200 million annual revenue (est.)
- Ownership
- State-owned company
- Reporting
- Figures based on public filings, press reports and market estimates
Business model & revenue
China Daily operates a news and media publisher focused on China. China's leading English-language newspaper and news site. Revenue comes mainly from advertising, supported by the other lines listed below.
- Advertising
- Government funding
Products & services
International presence
- Primary market
- China
- Expansion
- Regional and diaspora audiences beyond the home market
Employee statistics
Customer statistics
Website rankings
- Country rank (China)
- #105 in this index
- Sector rank
- Leading news & media site in China
- Global rank
- 1500
Main competitors
Website comparisons
| Website | Monthly visits | Rank | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| xinhuanet.com | ≈ 36 million / month | #106 class competitor | — |
| globaltimes.cn | ≈ 27 million / month | #107 class competitor | — |
| cgtn.com | ≈ 18 million / month | #108 class competitor | — |
What is China Daily?
China Daily (chinadaily.com.cn) is a news and media publisher serving users in China. China's leading English-language newspaper and news site. It ranks #105 among the most visited websites in the country in this index, within the news & media category.
Who owns China Daily?
The site is operated by China Daily Group, founded by Chinese State. The company was established in 1981 and is headquartered in Beijing, China. It employs around 2,000+.
Traffic and audience
Traffic estimates place China Daily at roughly 60 million visits per month, about 2 million per day. Around 79% mobile of sessions come from mobile devices, and visitors view about 3.1 pages per visit with an average session of 3 min.
How China Daily makes money
Revenue comes primarily from advertising, alongside government funding.
Competitors in China
Its closest rivals include xinhuanet.com, globaltimes.cn, cgtn.com.
Data and accuracy
Company facts are drawn from public sources. Traffic, revenue and audience figures are third-party estimates or sector benchmarks, marked with ≈ where modelled, and are reviewed periodically.
Company history & milestones
- 1981
China Daily is founded in Beijing, China.
- Growth phase
Expands its news & media offering and moves to a mobile-first product.
- Today
Ranks #105 among the most visited websites in China.
User reviews & ratings
| Source | Score | Reviews | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Google Play | ≈ 4.3 / 5 | — | Ratings from the local store listing |
| App Store | ≈ 4.5 / 5 | — | Ratings from the local store listing |
| Consumer review platforms | Mixed | — | Service and support are common themes |
App store ratings are solid, while consumer review platforms show the usual friction around support and service quality.
Pros & cons
Pros
- Broad daily news coverage with national reach
- Fast breaking-news publishing
- Free access to most articles
- Strong presence in search and social
Cons
- Heavy advertising load on article pages
- Editorial line criticised by parts of the audience
- Clickbait headlines on high-traffic sections
- Paywall limits on premium content
Key statistics
Frequently asked questions
Who owns China Daily?
China Daily is operated by China Daily Group. State-owned company structure, based on public filings and press reporting.
Where is China Daily headquartered?
China Daily is headquartered in Beijing, China.
When was China Daily founded?
China Daily was founded in 1981 by Chinese State.
How many employees does China Daily have?
China Daily employs approximately 2,000+ people.
What is China Daily's revenue?
China Daily's revenue: ≈ $200 million annual revenue (est.).
Who are China Daily's competitors?
Main competitors in China include xinhuanet.com, globaltimes.cn, cgtn.com.
How does China Daily make money?
Mainly advertising, government funding.
Is China Daily publicly traded?
China Daily's ownership: State-owned company.
How many visitors does China Daily get?
Third-party estimates place China Daily at roughly 60 million visits per month, mostly from China, with 79% mobile traffic.
Is China Daily safe?
China Daily is an established news & media site founded in 1981 and ranked #105 in China; use the official domain chinadaily.com.cn and HTTPS.
Popular searches
Data sources & confidence
- Company website and public announcementschinadaily.com.cn
- Third-party traffic estimation providersSimilarweb-class estimates
Visit figures are modelled, not measured
- App store listingsApple App Store, Google Play
- Press and market coverageChina and international business media
- Data confidence
- Medium for company facts, medium-low for traffic and financial estimates. All modelled figures are rounded and marked with ≈.
- Last updated
- September 2026
Traffic, revenue and audience figures are third-party estimates or derived from sector benchmarks, and are reviewed periodically.
Social media profiles & statistics
Official brand account
Announcements and support
Community and campaigns
Company and hiring updates
Brand and product videos