The primary Chinese version of Instagram, especially for lifestyle, beauty, and product discovery, is Xiaohongshu (小红书), also known as "Little Red Book," which blends social sharing with e-commerce and focuses on user-generated reviews and trends. Other popular alternatives in China include Douyin (China's TikTok) for short videos and Sina Weibo for microblogging, though Xiaohongshu offers the closest visual and content-sharing experience to Instagram.
Weibo. The two biggest social media platforms, by numbers alone, are overwhelmingly WeChat and Weibo with 1.3 billion monthly active users and almost 600 million MAU respectively.
In 2022, Taiwan banned Xiaohongshu from government devices, calling it a "united front" for Chinese propaganda. Earlier this year, Taiwan sent a letter to Xiaohongshu's parent company, Xingyin Information Technology (Shanghai), seeking "concrete improvement measures," but the company did not reply.
Xiaohongshu's English version is designed for English speakers, offering a tailored experience. Switching to the English version is straightforward, but there might be a few hiccups along the way. The English version offers unique content and features not found in the original Chinese app.
Key Takeaways. Xiaohongshu is more about written content and reviews, while Instagram leans heavily on visuals. Instagram has a massive global user base, but Xiaohongshu is huge in China, especially among young women. Both platforms use algorithms differently, affecting how users discover content.
Getting a personal account on Xiaohongshu is easy, and you can follow our tips below. We also have a step-by-step guide to upgrading to a verified Xiaohongshu Business Pro account from overseas. Download and install Xiaohongshu on the Apple App Store or Google Play. Login via your QQ, phone number, Weibo or Apple ID.
Share. TL;DR: Tourists can access social media in China, but most popular Western platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp are blocked by the Great Firewall. The most reliable methods involve using travel eSIMs, international roaming, or a VPN (downloaded before arrival).
Avoid Sharing Personal Contact Information: Refrain from posting mobile phone numbers, WeChat accounts, or email addresses. Instead, use the platform's communication tools to interact with your audience.
Dubbed the 'Super App of China', WeChat captivates over 1.3 billion monthly active users. It's not just about chats; it's an integral part of daily life in China.
Yes, you can use Xiaohongshu even if you don't speak Chinese. The app offers an English interface option, which you can switch to in the settings. However, most user-generated content will still be in Chinese, though many posts offer a translation feature.
China's "3-hour rule" for minors restricts children under 18 to playing online video games for only three hours per week, specifically from 8 PM to 9 PM on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays, to combat gaming addiction and improve health. Implemented by the National Press and Publication Administration (NPPA) in 2021, the rule mandates gaming companies use real-name verification and facial recognition to enforce limits, though some children bypass it using adult accounts.
Citing national security concerns due to the application's ability to (1) automatically capture the personal information of U.S. citizens, (2) censor content “that the Chinese Communist Party deems politically sensitive,” and (3) spread “disinformation campaigns that benefit the Chinese Communist Party,” the order ...
xiaohongshu is very LGBT friendly from what i've seen so far. the equivalent of #wlw on there is #le and it's a very active tag.
The "Three Ts" in China refer to the highly sensitive topics of Taiwan, Tibet, and Tiananmen Square, which are major taboos and subjects of strict censorship, with discussions often discouraged or forbidden due to their challenge to the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) narrative and authority. Foreigners are often advised to avoid these topics to prevent discomfort, legal issues, or awkwardness with Chinese citizens.
Q: How many users does the Xiaohongshu app have? A: Xiaohongshu has over 163 million monthly active users. Xiaohongshu, also known as Little Red Book or RED, is a Chinese platform combining social media platforms and e-commerce, comparable to Instagram.
TL;DR: No, WhatsApp is blocked in China by the Great Firewall. However, travelers can easily bypass this restriction using a travel eSIM (like Nomad eSIM) or a VPN. For most tourists, a travel eSIM is the most reliable and hassle-free solution to ensure WhatsApp works in China for messaging and calling.
There isn't one single "No. 1" app, as it depends on the metric (downloads, active users, revenue), but TikTok and Meta's apps (Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp) consistently lead in downloads, while YouTube and Google Chrome dominate user numbers, and apps like TikTok and Google One lead in revenue, showing different apps are "best" for different purposes.
Does WeChat cost money? WeChat is free to download! All of WeChat's core features are free to use. Should you exceed your data usage from the app, you may incur additional charges from your network provider.
WeChat is undoubtedly the powerhouse of the Chinese social media landscape, with a user base of over 1.38 billion. WeChat has one of the most active user bases among all social media platforms in China, with 877 million people logging in every day, and 61% checking their accounts for updates at least ten times a day.
China's "0.1% rule" refers to its 2025 export controls that require licenses for products containing 0.1% or more (by value) of certain Chinese-origin rare earth elements or technologies, extending China's regulatory reach globally to materials like magnets, semiconductors, and defense components, even if manufactured outside China. This extraterritorial control, similar to the U.S. Foreign Direct Product Rule, aims to leverage China's dominance in rare earth supply chains for strategic influence, impacting high-tech industries by requiring approval for exports and potentially disrupting global supply chains.
Since Xiaohongshu primarily serves Chinese consumers, its payment options cater mostly to domestic buyers. However, international shoppers can still make purchases with the right payment method or by using third-party shopping agents.
Netflix is not available in: China. Crimea. North Korea.
Like many other famous websites or web services, Spotify doesn't work in China, people living or traveling in China are typically unable to listen their favorite songs and any other song on Spotify.
YouTube, along with many other websites, is blocked in China. This is due to censorship measures enforced by the country's "Great Firewall". You can use our EXPERTE.com Internet censorship check to find out which websites are banned in China.
China's Great Firewall blocks foreign social media sites like Facebook, curbing politically sensitive content. Facebook has been banned in China since 2009, after riots in the Xinjiang region.