Top-Level Domains (TLDs) for the Chinese market

Key terms: TLD, domain, NS and DNS

There are two main parts to a domain name you need to consider when making a purchase:

• TLD (Top-Level Domain): the part of the domain name that comes after the “dot”, e.g. .com, .net.
• Domain: the part that comes before the TLD, e.g. mydomain in mydomain.com.

The domain name is the domain + TLD, e.g. mydomain.com.

Summary: TLDs for the Chinese market

• Do not use Chinese ccTLDs (e.g. .cn, .com.cn, .gov.cn) for an overseas business presence.
• In 2022, Chinese authorities changed ownership rules: only Chinese companies and citizens can own Chinese TLDs.
• Overseas companies can still purchase a domain in China, enabling the use of Chinese national name services.
• Chinese search engines prioritise traditional TLDs such as .com, .net, .co, .cn.
• Our recommendation: keep your current TLD (.com / .co) and add cn to the domain label, e.g. mydomaincn.com or mydomaincn.co.
• Registering a domain in China can significantly improve online performance in China and local search visibility.

Top-level domains (TLDs): the three main groups

TLDs are broadly grouped as follows:

• Country-code TLDs (ccTLDs): two-letter TLDs assigned to countries/territories (e.g. .uk, .cn, .de) and managed by local authorities.
• Sponsored gTLDs (sTLDs): TLDs representing a defined community/sector (e.g. .edu, .gov, .museum), with sponsor policies.
• Unsponsored gTLDs (uTLDs): generic TLDs managed by ICANN-accredited registries and open to general use (e.g. .com, .net, .org, .info, .online).

Second-level ccTLDs under .cn

Within ccTLDs, there are also second-level ccTLDs. Examples under .cn include:

• .com.cn — commercial entities operating in China
• .net.cn — network-related organisations
• .org.cn — non-profits / organisations
• .gov.cn — government institutions
• .edu.cn — educational institutions
• .mil.cn — military organisations

Commonly used TLDs in China

Traditionally, commonly used TLDs in China include:

• .com
• .cn
• .com.cn (the original Chinese commercial format)

Chinese language domains and IDNs

You can register Internationalised Domain Names (IDNs) using non-Latin scripts, including Simplified and Traditional Chinese. Examples include:

• .中国 — .cn in Simplified Chinese
• .中國 — .cn in Traditional Chinese
• .公司 — .com in Simplified Chinese
• .网络 — .net in Simplified Chinese

You can also register the domain label in Chinese characters (e.g. 我的域名.com). While technically possible, we do not recommend it — its use is limited to people who can easily input Chinese on mobile/tablet keyboards.

Chinese ccTLD management and 2022 ownership rules

Chinese ccTLDs are operated and managed by the Chinese authorities. Since 2013, purchasing Chinese domains has been fully automated and typically involves a licensed Chinese supplier in the background.

In 2022, Chinese authorities only allow Chinese companies and citizens to own Chinese TLDs. If an overseas business uses a Chinese TLD, the authorities can shut down the domain.

ICP rules and publishing content in China

Chinese authorities apply Internet Content Provider (ICP) rules if you publish content within China. When writing this paper, ICP rules do not apply if you use Chinese ccTLDs outside China, however policies can evolve.

We recommend refraining from publishing inappropriate materials for the Chinese market.

Brand registration checks

We always recommend registering your company trademarks and brand name(s) in China.

When publishing a domain in China, local authorities may check the Chinese brand registration database. If the name is a registered brand, you may not be permitted to use the domain name in China — even if you own it. You can still use the domain outside China.