China now has more than 513 million Internet users and over 356 million mobile Internet users by the end of December, 2011, according to the 29th Statistical Report on Internet Development out today by CNNIC, or China Internet Network Information Center, the state-run network information center of China.
Highlights
*By year-end of 2011, over 513 million Internet users (increased by 55.8 million in last year) and 356 million mobile Internet users (increased by 52.85 million) in China
*Out of all the netizens, 73.4% of them are equipped with desktops while 69.3% use mobile devices
*More than 2.3 million websites in China
*More than half Chinese Internet users (48.7%) are using weibos, gaining on traditional news channels as weibos now serve as one of the major news sources
*Entertainment applications facing downturn, whereas online video rises steadily with more than 325 million users, or a use rate of nearly 63.4%
*Ecommerce sees growing in general including online shopping (increased by 33.44 million, or 20.8%), online payment (up 32.5%) and online banking (up 32.4%)
The report also shows that in the past year more than 64.65 million users purchased on Chinese group buying sites.