1. What is Pick China Directory and who is it for?+
A curated English directory that maps Chinese internet platforms to US equivalents for researchers, marketers, expats, and curious users.
2. How is China's internet different from the West?+
China's internet is characterized by "walled garden" ecosystems where platforms rarely interoperate, mobile-first super-apps, integrated payments, and content regulation. The market is dominated by a few giants: Tencent, Alibaba, and ByteDance.
3. Do Chinese internet platforms have English interfaces?+
Some major platforms have English versions - Trip.com, Alibaba.com, AliExpress, and Alipay offer English interfaces. However, most domestic-focused platforms like Douyin, Meituan, and Kuaishou are Chinese-only.
4. How do you pick the top sites in each category?+
We combine traffic, cultural influence, product features, and relevance to US analogs; lists are updated periodically.
5. What is a super-app and which Chinese apps are examples?+
A super-app is a mobile application that integrates multiple services - messaging, payments, e-commerce, and more - into a single platform. WeChat is the most prominent example. Meituan, Alipay, and Douyin are also evolving into super-apps.
6. Can I access Chinese sites from the US? Any restrictions?+
Many sites are accessible but some features require Chinese phone numbers, accounts, or are geo-restricted; check each site's access notes.
7. Are Chinese apps safe to use?+
Major platforms like WeChat, Taobao, and Alipay are widely used and regulated within China.
8. Why is live streaming shopping so popular in China?+
Because it combines entertainment, influencers, and instant purchasing in one experience.
9. Is VPN required to access Chinese platforms?+
Most major Chinese apps are available globally, so VPN is usually not required.
10. Why do most Chinese websites only operate in Chinese without English versions?+
Five factors explain this. First, China has over 1 billion internet users and 99% of content is consumed in Chinese - single-language focus makes economic sense. Second, the Chinese internet operates as a self-contained ecosystem with unique platforms and user expectations, so building English versions for massive investment with limited return isn't justified. Third, most Chinese platforms were designed as domestic-first products without internationalization in mind. Recently, this is
11. Do people use VPNs in China?+
Yes, some Chinese users and expats use VPNs to access blocked international sites. However, unauthorized VPNs are officially restricted and may be blocked by the GFW. Approved VPNs for business use are legal.
