Global Times (Huanqiu)
The online platform of a Chinese state-affiliated tabloid covering news, international affairs and nationalist commentary.
Global Times at a glance
Global Times is a news & media website and one of the most visited sites in China, currently ranked #100 in the country. It was founded in 1993 by People's Daily and is headquartered in Beijing, China. Today Global Times is owned by People's Daily Group. Our estimates put its audience at ≈ 150 million visits per month. The business earns money mainly through digital advertising, print sales. Its closest rivals include chinadaily.com.cn, thepaper.cn, cctv.com.
Traffic statistics
Traffic history
| Period | Visits | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Q1 | ≈ 141 million / month | +2% |
| Q2 | ≈ 146 million / month | +3% |
| Q3 | ≈ 150 million / month | +3% |
| Q4 | ≈ 159 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
- ≈ 45 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| global times (huanqiu) | 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
- huanqiu.com
- Sector
- News & Media
- Owner
- People's Daily Group
- Owner type
- State-owned company
- Founders
- People's Daily
- Founded
- 1993
- Headquarters
- Beijing, China
- Employees
- 1,000+
- Ownership
- People's Daily Group controls the platform. Ownership details are based on public filings and press reporting.
- Revenue
- ≈ $150 million annual revenue (est.)
- Languages
- Chinese, English
- Top traffic sources
- direct, organic search, social
Financials
- Revenue
- ≈ $150 million annual revenue (est.)
- Ownership
- State-owned company
- Reporting
- Figures based on public filings, press reports and market estimates
Business model & revenue
Global Times (Huanqiu) operates a news and media publisher focused on China. The online platform of a Chinese state-affiliated tabloid covering news, international affairs and nationalist commentary. Revenue comes mainly from digital advertising, supported by the other lines listed below.
- Digital advertising
- Print sales
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)
- #100 in this index
- Sector rank
- Leading news & media site in China
- Global rank
- 900
Main competitors
Website comparisons
| Website | Monthly visits | Rank | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| chinadaily.com.cn | ≈ 90 million / month | #101 class competitor | — |
| thepaper.cn | ≈ 67.5 million / month | #102 class competitor | — |
| cctv.com | ≈ 45 million / month | #103 class competitor | — |
What is Global Times (Huanqiu)?
Global Times (Huanqiu) (huanqiu.com) is a news and media publisher serving users in China. The online platform of a Chinese state-affiliated tabloid covering news, international affairs and nationalist commentary. It ranks #100 among the most visited websites in the country in this index, within the news & media category.
Who owns Global Times (Huanqiu)?
The site is operated by People's Daily Group, founded by People's Daily. The company was established in 1993 and is headquartered in Beijing, China. It employs around 1,000+.
Traffic and audience
Traffic estimates place Global Times (Huanqiu) at roughly 150 million visits per month, about 5 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 Global Times (Huanqiu) makes money
Revenue comes primarily from digital advertising, alongside print sales.
Competitors in China
Its closest rivals include chinadaily.com.cn, thepaper.cn, cctv.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
- 1993
Global Times (Huanqiu) is founded in Beijing, China.
- Growth phase
Expands its news & media offering and moves to a mobile-first product.
- Today
Ranks #100 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 Global Times (Huanqiu)?
Global Times (Huanqiu) is operated by People's Daily Group. State-owned company structure, based on public filings and press reporting.
Where is Global Times (Huanqiu) headquartered?
Global Times (Huanqiu) is headquartered in Beijing, China.
When was Global Times (Huanqiu) founded?
Global Times (Huanqiu) was founded in 1993 by People's Daily.
How many employees does Global Times (Huanqiu) have?
Global Times (Huanqiu) employs approximately 1,000+ people.
What is Global Times (Huanqiu)'s revenue?
Global Times (Huanqiu)'s revenue: ≈ $150 million annual revenue (est.).
Who are Global Times (Huanqiu)'s competitors?
Main competitors in China include chinadaily.com.cn, thepaper.cn, cctv.com.
How does Global Times (Huanqiu) make money?
Mainly digital advertising, print sales.
Is Global Times (Huanqiu) publicly traded?
Global Times (Huanqiu)'s ownership: State-owned company.
How many visitors does Global Times (Huanqiu) get?
Third-party estimates place Global Times (Huanqiu) at roughly 150 million visits per month, mostly from China, with 79% mobile traffic.
Is Global Times (Huanqiu) safe?
Global Times (Huanqiu) is an established news & media site founded in 1993 and ranked #100 in China; use the official domain huanqiu.com and HTTPS.
Popular searches
Data sources & confidence
- Company website and public announcementshuanqiu.com
- 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