Baidu: The Alternative to Google in China

by That's Mandarin | Nov 25, 2022

Many foreigners in China soon notice that well-known websites like Google and Youtube are not very popular in China. Well, the reason for that is because China has developed its own search engine and similar social media platforms for Chinese users. In this article, let’s take a look at the “Chinese version” of Google, as well as its products — Chinese alternatives to Wikipedia, Quora, and Dropbox.

Baidu: the Chinese version of Google

Baidu, The Alternative to Google in China | That's Mandarin Blog

百度
Bǎidù
Baidu (Chinese technology company and search engine)

Chinese people use Baidu on a daily basis for different purposes from browsing news to searching for necessary information. Baidu is considered the Chinese version of Google in that it incorporates similar functions like News, Images, Videos and Map.

Baidu Baike: the Chinese version of Wikipedia

Baidu Baike, The Alternative to Wikipedia in China | That's Mandarin Blog

百度百科
Bǎidù Bǎikē
Baidu Encyclopedia, also known as Baidu Wiki (Chinese-language collaborative online encyclopedia)

If you would like to acquire a deeper knowledge of what you’re interested in (it could literally be anything), Baidu Baike serves as Wikipedia as it provides detailed information on a variety of subjects ranging from monuments to blockbusters.

Nevertheless, there are some other functions on Baidu that Chinese people often use for academic or professional purposes.

Baidu Forum: the Chinese version of Quora

百度贴吧
Bǎidù Tiēbā
Baidu Forum

Baidu Forum (百度贴吧 Bǎidù Tiēbā) works as a platform where people have the opportunity to discuss various topics that they might find helpful for their work or lives.