How to Search Using Sina

What used to take hours to research in libraries can now be accessed on the Internet in a matter of seconds. In China, the most valuable search tool consumers have can be found on SINA. Recipes, old classmates and long-lost relatives are just a few of the things you can locate quickly on the Internet when using SINA's search feature.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Computer with Internet access

Search With SINA

1. Sign on to the Internet and head to the SINA homepage (see Resources below).

2. Type your search term into the box labeled 'Accoona.' (Accoona is a popular search engine in China.) Hit Enter.

3. Scroll through the articles that appear as potential matches to your request. Since SINA is primarily used by Chinese speakers, Chinese results will usually appear first. Use the drop-down menu on the search screen to limit your results to English text only. You can also refine your search to include only Web sites published in a given geographic area or sites that include the name of a specific company.

4. Enclose your search term in quotation marks if you only want to return results that use an exact phrase. To exclude a word from your search results, type a minus (-) sign directly before it.

5. Target your search. Click the 'News' link to search only within news articles. If you want to search only business Web sites, click the corresponding 'Business' link.

6. Find products and services on SINA by using the 'Business' link when you enter your search term into the box on the homepage. For example, if you search for 'flowers,' using the 'Business' link will bring up a list of florists' Web sites.

Tips & Warnings

• Contact SINA customer service with any questions you have about the Web site's search feature or other functions. The email address for English speakers is [e-mail].
• SINA's privacy policy states that they will have access to the information you enter when you register for an account. They will also be able to access your cookie history file, so that every Web site you have visited will be in their file on your Internet usage. You can disable cookies to enhance your privacy, but note that this may also decrease the functionality of your browser.