How to Register Domain Names in China

The domain extension for China is .cn.

If you live in a China or own a company that conducts business in China, registering a domain on China's .cn extension is one way to establish a web presence. While many of the same registrars that offer .com and other domain extensions also offer .cn names, Chinese domains are more complicated to register. Understand the process of registering a Chinese domain and the related rules to ensure your registration becomes active as quickly as possible.

Instructions

1. Select a domain registrar. This is the company that manages your domain registration. The China Internet Network Information Center (CINNIC) provides a list of accredited registrars on its website.

2. Choose an available domain name. All registrars provide an on line search feature for looking up domains. Have alternate choices ready in case the domain you want to register is already taken.

   Whatever domain you decide to register, it must comply with a strict set of restrictions. Domain registrations may not violate the basic principles of the Constitution, harm national honor, endanger the country, promote discrimination of minorities or encourage disorder.

   Note that domains cannot violate state religion policies, even if you do not live in China. China only recognizes five religions: Buddhism, Taoism, Islam, Catholicism and Protestantism. Atheism is the official state religion. Since all other faiths are banned, registering a domain promoting a non-approved religion is illegal.

   Finally, the domain cannot have anything to do with pornography, obscenity or gambling. The Chinese government takes this rule very seriously. In February 2010, it hired 600 workers to manually inspect each of the 14 million .cn registrations for illicit content.

3. Check out with your registrar to complete registration. Double-check to make sure your contact information and payment details are correct.

4. Fill out an application form and send it to your registrar via fax or email. It should include your domain name, the names and IP addresses of your DNS servers and contact information.

References

• CNNIC: CNNIC Implementing Rules of Domain Name Registration
• CNNIC: FAQs on .CN Domain Names
• Domain News: Censorship of .CN Taken One Step Further

Resources

• CNNIC: Domain Name Accredited Registrars