CNKI
China's largest academic literature database.
CNKI at a glance
CNKI is an education website and one of the most visited sites in China, currently ranked #159 in the country. It was founded in 1999 by Tsinghua University and is headquartered in Beijing, China. Today CNKI is owned by Tsinghua Tongfang. Our estimates put its audience at ≈ 100 million visits per month. The business earns money mainly through institutional subscriptions. Its closest rivals include wanfangdata.com.cn, scholar.google.com, sciencedirect.com.
Traffic statistics
Traffic history
| Period | Visits | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Q1 | ≈ 94 million / month | +2% |
| Q2 | ≈ 97 million / month | +3% |
| Q3 | ≈ 100 million / month | +3% |
| Q4 | ≈ 106 million / month | +6% |
Traffic sources
- Organic search44%
- Direct36%
- Referral10%
- Social6%
- Paid4%
Audience & demographics
- Women51%
- Men49%
- Age 18-2434%
- Age 25-3427%
- Age 35-4419%
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
- ≈ 30 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| cnki | 1 | Very high | Dominant |
| exam results | Top 10 | High | — |
| past papers | Top 10 | High | — |
| online courses | 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
- ≈ 66% mobile
- Position in country
- Among the leading education apps in China
Company information
- Website
- cnki.net
- Sector
- Education
- Owner
- Tsinghua Tongfang
- Owner type
- Public company
- Founders
- Tsinghua University
- Founded
- 1999
- Headquarters
- Beijing, China
- Employees
- 3,000+
- Ownership
- Tsinghua Tongfang controls the platform. Ownership details are based on public filings and press reporting.
- Revenue
- ≈ $500 million annual revenue (est.)
- Languages
- Chinese, English
- Top traffic sources
- organic search, direct, referral
Financials
- Revenue
- ≈ $500 million annual revenue (est.)
- Ownership
- Public company
- Reporting
- Figures based on public filings, press reports and market estimates
Business model & revenue
CNKI operates an education platform focused on China. China's largest academic literature database. Revenue comes mainly from institutional subscriptions, supported by the other lines listed below.
- Institutional subscriptions
Products & services
Related deals on Amazon
As an Amazon Associate, Global Site Index earns from qualifying purchases.
International presence
- Primary market
- China
- Expansion
- Regional and diaspora audiences beyond the home market
Employee statistics
Customer statistics
Website rankings
- Country rank (China)
- #159 in this index
- Sector rank
- Leading education site in China
- Global rank
- 500
Main competitors
Website comparisons
| Website | Monthly visits | Rank | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| wanfangdata.com.cn | ≈ 60 million / month | #160 class competitor | — |
| scholar.google.com | ≈ 45 million / month | #161 class competitor | — |
| sciencedirect.com | ≈ 30 million / month | #162 class competitor | — |
What is CNKI?
CNKI (cnki.net) is an education platform serving users in China. China's largest academic literature database. It ranks #159 among the most visited websites in the country in this index, within the education category.
Who owns CNKI?
The site is operated by Tsinghua Tongfang, founded by Tsinghua University. The company was established in 1999 and is headquartered in Beijing, China. It employs around 3,000+.
Traffic and audience
Traffic estimates place CNKI at roughly 100 million visits per month, about 3.3 million per day. Around 66% mobile of sessions come from mobile devices, and visitors view about 5.2 pages per visit with an average session of 9 min.
How CNKI makes money
Revenue comes primarily from institutional subscriptions, alongside .
Competitors in China
Its closest rivals include wanfangdata.com.cn, scholar.google.com, sciencedirect.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
- 1999
CNKI is founded in Beijing, China.
- Growth phase
Expands its education offering and moves to a mobile-first product.
- Today
Ranks #159 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
- Free or low-cost access to study material
- Content aligned with the national curriculum
- Works on low-end devices
- Exam and result services in one place
Cons
- Peak-period slowdowns around exam dates
- Uneven content quality between subjects
- Limited personalised feedback
- Some features locked behind subscriptions
Key statistics
Frequently asked questions
Who owns CNKI?
CNKI is operated by Tsinghua Tongfang. Public company structure, based on public filings and press reporting.
Where is CNKI headquartered?
CNKI is headquartered in Beijing, China.
When was CNKI founded?
CNKI was founded in 1999 by Tsinghua University.
How many employees does CNKI have?
CNKI employs approximately 3,000+ people.
What is CNKI's revenue?
CNKI's revenue: ≈ $500 million annual revenue (est.).
Who are CNKI's competitors?
Main competitors in China include wanfangdata.com.cn, scholar.google.com, sciencedirect.com.
How does CNKI make money?
Mainly institutional subscriptions.
Is CNKI publicly traded?
CNKI's ownership: Public company.
How many visitors does CNKI get?
Third-party estimates place CNKI at roughly 100 million visits per month, mostly from China, with 66% mobile traffic.
Is CNKI safe?
CNKI is an established education site founded in 1999 and ranked #159 in China; use the official domain cnki.net and HTTPS.
Popular searches
Data sources & confidence
- Company website and public announcementscnki.net
- 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