Which platforms pay creators in China?

YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and the international TikTok app are blocked in mainland China. Creators there build audiences and get paid on Chinese platforms instead. ByteDance runs Douyin as TikTok's separate mainland-China app.

Sources: Wikipedia: Censorship of YouTube · Proton VPN: the Great Firewall of China

Douyin, WeChat, Weibo, Kuaishou, Bilibili and Xiaohongshu require creators above 500,000 or 1 million followers to show their real names, or the names of their backers, on their profiles.

Sources: China Daily: influencers required to display real names · Yicai Global: popular accounts told to use real names

Douyin pays little for views. Creators earn mainly from selling in live streams (commissions often 20–50%), virtual gifts during live streams, and brand deals.

Sources: Digital in Asia: Asia's creator economy in 2026 · China Gravy: Xiaohongshu vs Douyin monetization 2026

Paid brand deals run through Xingtu (Star Map), Douyin's influencer marketplace, open to accounts with 10,000 or more followers.

Sources: InfluChina: finding Douyin influencers · Just One API: Douyin Star Map guide

Posting, live streaming and the wallet sit behind real-name verification built around the mainland Chinese ID card. Passport support is inconsistent, which makes earning on Douyin hard for foreign creators.

Sources: Nanjing Marketing Group: setting up Douyin from outside China · China Neighbor: Douyin for foreigners

Bilibili's Creator Incentive Program, launched in 2018, pays uploaders cash based on views and engagement. Creators also earn from paid fan memberships, live gifts and brand deals.

Sources: TechNode: Bilibili's push for profitability and creators · RADII: creators leave Bilibili

Unlike Douyin, Bilibili's real-name verification accepts foreign identity documents and foreigners' permanent residence permits.

Sources: Nanjing Marketing Group: Bilibili account setup and verification

Brand deals run through Pugongying, Xiaohongshu's official platform for brand and creator collaborations. Reported requirements are real-name verification, at least 1,000 followers, age 18 or over, and no recent violations.

Sources: Just One API: Xiaohongshu Pugongying guide · Brand Catalyser: Xiaohongshu brand collaboration

Kuaishou creators earn mainly from live-stream gifts and from commissions on products sold during live streams, plus brand deals.

Sources: Ashley Dudarenok: what is Kuaishou · Digital in Asia: Asia's creator economy in 2026

WeChat Channels started sharing ad revenue with creators in 2023, from ads shown in the comment section of their videos. Reported entry requirement: at least 100 followers.

Sources: TechNode: WeChat Channels to share revenue with creators · Baidu Baike: WeChat Channels Creator Revenue Sharing Program

The other main income is live-stream selling, with links from videos straight into WeChat Mini Program shops.

Sources: Yicai Global: WeChat short-video payment plans for creators · Tech Buzz China: WeChat Channels