Alternatives to Youtube in China

by That's Mandarin | Nov 25, 2022 | Chinese Apps

YouTube Alternatives in China: Youku and More | That's Mandarin Blog

As a Chinese learner, you might be wondering where to find some raw, authentic content in Chinese: TV shows, reality shows, vlogs, interviews with interesting people, and so on. Well, look no further — in this post we will look at 5 popular Chinese video sharing platforms that can work as alternatives to Youtube for you with an abundance of video content in Mandarin Chinese.

1. 优酷 (Yōukù): the Chinese version of Youtube

优酷
Yōukù
Youku, (China’s video platform and app)

The name 优酷 (Yōukù) sounds similar to Youtube — and in essence, that’s the Chinese version of it. In China, Youku is one of the most famous social media platforms where you can find numerous videos covering any genre.

Some expats may wonder if only Chinese videos can be seen on Youku as it is a Chinese website. Well, if you also think that Youku is designed to only accommodate Chinese netizens’ requirements, I’m afraid you underestimate its “real power”. Despite the fact that Youku contains predominantly Chinese movies and video clips, a large number of movies in different languages are included in the database. Just like how it works on Youtube, you will be allowed to upload videos with appropriate content once you create an account on Youku.

Paid Content

However, not everything on Youku is free. Some videos and movies are only available for VIP members, which means you will need to make a monthly payment in order to gain access to them.