FAQs and Answers for .CN Domain Name Registration
I. Understanding .CN Domain Names
What is a domain name? What are second-level domain names, third-level domain names and sub-domain names? How to use your own domain names?
A domain name is akin to an address on the Internet, serving as a hierarchical textual identifier used to recognize and locate computers on the network and corresponds to the Internet Protocol (IP) address of the respective computer. However, it is more user-friendly and easier to remember than an IP address.
The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) oversees the management and coordination of the Internet's domain name system. The top-level domain names are divided in the Internet domain name system, including:
Country Code Top Level Domain names (ccTLDs) correspond to the geographic locations of countries and regions, including examples such as .CN for China, .US for the United States etc.;
Generic Top-Level Domain (gTLD) names correspond to various categories, such as .COM, .NET, .ORG, and others. In recent years, ICANN has introduced new types of top-level domain names, such as .BIZ, .INFO, and others, in response to the evolving needs of the domain name system.
A complete domain name consists of two or more parts, each separated by a period ("."). The part to the right of the last period is called the top-level domain name, while the part to the left of the last period is called the second-level domain name. The part to the left of the second-level domain name is referred to as the third-level domain name, and so on. Each level of the domain name controls the allocation of the domain name for the level below it. For example, cnnic.cn is a second-level domain name, cnnic.net.cn is a third-level domain name.
A domain name can be configured with subdomains, which users can set up themselves or obtain assistance from domain name registrars. A subdomain is a relative concept, referring to the level below the parent domain. The next level of the parent domain is the subdomain. Domain names can have multiple levels, which are separated by a period (".") in between each part of the domain name. For example, "ewhois.cnnic.cn" is a subdomain of "cnnic.cn."
A domain name is a fundamental service on the Internet, and based on the domain name, various application services such as WWW, EMAIL, FTP, and others can be provided. For example:
1. Establishing a personal or organizational homepage;
2. Setting up an email system for an individual or organization to enable sending and receiving emails for external communication;
3. Using the domain name for business or product promotion, such as displaying the homepage address on business cards or advertisements;
4. Pointing the domain name to your own microblog and personal space.
What is CN domain name?
The .CN domain is China's country code top-level domain (ccTLD), representing domain names with the .CN suffix. This includes second-level domain names directly registered under .CN, as well as third-level domain names registered under .CN second-level domains.
The .CN domain is a country code top-level domain (ccTLD), with "CN" representing China. The China Internet Network Information Center (CNNIC) is the registry for the .CN domain name, responsible for operating and managing the corresponding .CN domain name system and maintaining the central database.
What are the benefits of registering a .CN domain name?
1. It helps maintain national Internet information security;
2. It is governed by Chinese laws, ensuring full protection of user interests;
3. It offers services tailored to China, safeguarding users' right to information;
4. CN domain name resources are plentiful, allowing you to secure a desirable domain name;
5. It serves as a powerful symbol, reflecting your identity and positioning.
II. Choose a .CN domain name
What are the categories of .CN domain names? What suffixes are available for registering .CN domain names?
1. You can directly register second-level domain names under .CN, such as "cnnic.cn". The advantage is that the domain name is short, easy to remember, and clearly represents China;
2. Under the .CN top-level domain, there are two types of English second-level domain names: "category domain names" and "administrative region domain names.”
(1) Category domain names are categorized based on the nature of the applying organization, with a total of 9 types. They are:
AC.CN, e.g., Graduate School of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, iscas.ac.cn;COM.CN，如：工商银行icbc.com.cn；
COM.CN, e.g., Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, icbc.com.cn;
EDU.CN, e.g., Peking University, pku.edu.cn;
GOV.CN, e.g., Chinese government website, www.gov.cn.
MIL.CN, e.g., Military Museum of the Chinese People's Revolution, jb.mil.cn.
NET.CN, e.g., China Internet Network Information Center, cnnic.net.cn.
ORG.CN, e.g., China Computer Federation, ccf.org.cn.
政务.cn, 公益.cn
Special requirements for registering category domain names:
To apply for a third-level domain name under ".GOV.CN," applicants must meet the conditions specified in Article 24, Chapter 3 of the Implementing Rules of China ccTLD Registration. For specific documentation requirements, please refer to the guidelines for registering .GOV domain names.
The rules for applying for a third-level domain name under ".EDU.CN" are set by the China Education and Research Network Center.
The rules for applying for a third-level domain name under ".MIL.CN" are set by the China Great Wall Internet Network Information Center.
The rules for applying for a third-level domain name under ".政务.cn" and ".公益.cn" are set by the China Organizational Name Administration Center.
(2) Administrative region domain names are divided according to the abbreviations of the names of China's administrative regions, totaling 34. These domain names correspond to the 34 provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities directly under the central government in China.
The administrative region domain names are as follows: BJ.CN-Beijing; SH.CN-Shanghai; TJ.CN-Tianjin; CQ.CN-Chongqing; HE.CN-Hebei; SX.CN-Shanxi; NM.CN-Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region; LN.CN-Liaoning; JL.CN-Jilin; HL.CN-Heilongjiang; JS.CN-Jiangsu; ZJ.CN-Zhejiang; AH CN-Anhui; FJ.CN-Fujian; JX.CN-Jiangxi; SD.CN-Shandong; HA.CN-Henan; HB.CN-Hubei; HN.CN-Hunan; GD.CN-Guangdong; GX.CN-Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region; HI.CN-Hainan; SC.CN-Sichuan; GZ.CN-Guizhou；YN.CN-Yunan；XZ.CN-Tibet Autonomous Region; SN.CN-Shaanxi; GS.CN-Gansu; QH.CN-Qinghai; NX.CN-Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region; XJ.CN-Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region; TW.CN-Taiwan Province; HK.CN-Hong Kong Special Administrative Region; MO.CN-Macao Special Administrative Region.
For example, an organization in Beijing can choose a domain name such as no8ms.bj.cn.
What are the naming rules for .CN domain name?
1. Chinese characters, English letters (a-z, case-insensitive), Arabic numebers (0-9), and the hyphen "-" (half-width) can be used solely or in combination. Spaces and special characters (e.g., !, $, &, ?) are not allowed;
2. The hyphen "-" cannot appear consecutively, cannot be registered alone, and cannot be placed at the beginning or end of the domain name;
3. A maximum of 63 characters can be registered (for Chinese .CN domains, the length is calculated based on the encoded format). For concersion methods, refer to “China Domain Name Online Conversion".
How to choose the .CN domain name to register?
You can select a .CN domain name based on your specific needs and preferences. For example:
1. Words that strongly represent a registrant's product or brand, such as coca-cola.com.cn or blue-sky-rescue.cn etc.
2. Words that directly represent the domain name registrants, such as xinhua.com.cn, sina.com.cn, etc.
3. Words used for advertising and promoting businesses or products, such as pingan.cn;
4. Service numbers that emphasize external publicity for enterprises, such as 10086.cn, etc.;
5. Popular Internet terms and other simple, easy-to-remember words.
III. How to register .CN domain names
What are the .CN domain name registration processes?
1. Select the Domain Name and Registration Period
.CN domain names are registered on a "first come, first served" basis.
The maximum registration period for a .CN domain name is 10 years. You can choose the registration period independently, measured in years.
2. Login the "WHOIS Query" system on CNNIC's website to look up domain
You can visit our website (www.cnnic.cn) and use the "WHOIS Query" system to check the registration status of a domain name.
Scenario 1: If the domain name you are checking is not registered, a message will appear saying, "the information you are checking does not exist". In this case, you can submit a registration application through a registrar. The display will be as follows:
Scenario 2: If the domain name you select is already registered, its registration information will be displayed. In this case, you can take the following measures:
(1) You can try adding hyphens, letters, and numbers, or altering the combination of the domain name that is already registered, and then submit the registration again;
(2) Contact the "registrant" listed in the WHOIS search results for further consultation.
Scenario 3: If the domain name being queried is under reserved registration, it means that only the designated entity can apply for registration. If the domain name being queried is prohibited, it means that no user is allowed to apply for registration. For more details, please contact our center or your registrar for confirmation. The display will be as follows:
For information on the application requirements for registering reserved domain names, please refer to the section "How to Register Reserved Domain Names” .
3. Select a preferred registrar from the list of organizations certified by our center.
A registrar is an entity that accepts domain name registration applications and directly processes the registration of domain names in the domestic top-level domain name database.
The price of .CN domain names is determined by the market, and each registrar sets reasonable prices based on current market conditions. You can find information about both domestic and international registrars on our website to help you choose a suitable organization for domain name registration.
https://cnnic.cn/n4/2022/0916/c174-10601.html
Domestic registrars:
https://cnnic.cn/n4/2022/0916/c174-10601.html
https://cnnic.cn/n4/2022/1021/c174-10634.html
Overseas registrars:
https://cnnic.cn/n4/2022/1021/c174-10634.html
4. Contact the registrar and submit the required domain name registration information
When applying for domain name registration, you should submit the following information to the domain name registrar, either in written or electronic form:
(1) The domain name for which registration is requested;
(2) The host names of the primary and secondary domain name servers, along with their IP addresses;
(3) If the applicant is a natural person, provide name, identity card number, type of document, mailing address, contact phone number, email address, etc. If the applicant is a legal entity or an unincorporated organization, provide the organization’s name, document number, type of document, mailing address, email address, phone number, etc.;
(4) The applicant's registrant contact person, administrative contact person, domain name technical contact person, payment contact person, and contractor's name, mailing address, email address, and telephone number;
(5) The desired domain name registration period.
The methods for applying for domain name registration may vary among different registrars. You can confirm the domain name registration submission method with the registrar of your choice. The registrar must submit the registration information to CNNIC within one working day of receiving the application.
5. Sign the domain name registration agreement and keep the relevant certificates.
When handling domain name matters, it is recommended to sign a paper or online registration agreement or contract with the registrar and retain the relevant certificates to better protect your rights and interests.
6. Submit accurate, truthful, and complete registration information and application materials.
When submitting your domain name registration application to the registrar, you must include the required application information. This should be provided as high-quality electronic copies, such as scanned originals, color photocopies, or photographs of the documents. The information usually contains:
(1) Identification information of a natural person;
(2) Identification documents for a legal entity or an unincorporated organization;
(3) Other relevant information related to the domain name registration application.
7. Verify domain name registration information
You can verify the submitted registration information by the following methods. Primarily, check whether the registrant, registration period, and contact email address are truthful, accurate, and complete, and ensure they fully match the information you provided during registration.
(1) The “WHOIS Query" system on the website of CNNIC;
(2) Domain query system on the website of the registrar to which the domain name belongs.
8. Pay attention to the domain name review status
The domain name you register must meet the following requirements to pass the review:
(1) The domain name must comply with the requirements outlined in the China Internet Domain Name Regulations;
(2) Domain name registration information must meet the requirements of truthfulness, accuracy, and completeness, and the identity information should be verifiable through national authority data;
(3) The application information must match the registration information displayed in the “WHOIS Query" system.
After the domain name application is submitted online, the registrar will conduct a preliminary review of the domain name registration information and related materials. Following the initial review, the registrar will submit the application information to our center. Our center will complete the review of the domain name registration information and materials within two working days.
You can monitor the progress and review status of your domain name through the registrar managing your domain name.
9. After the domain name registration is completed, use the record management system of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology to monitor the status of the record review.
Once your domain name passes the review, the registration is considered successful. The domain name itself does not require filing. If the domain name is used for website applications, website filing is required in accordance with the website management regulations of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology.
The website filing process is not handled or approved by our center. You need to contact your Internet access service provider or the domain name registrar to assist you in completing the website filing through the provincial Communications Authority.
10. Activate resolution and enable the domain name
After completing the .CN domain name registration through the registrar, you need to configure the .CN domain name resolution in order to use it. The specific methods to enable the domain name are as follows:
Mode 1: Set up resolution through the DNS resolution server of the registrar (recommended).
(1) Users can set the DNS servers for the .CN domain name through the registrar, which provides the DNS resolution servers;
(2) Users can set the A record, CNAME record, or MX record for .CN domain name resolution through the resolution function provided by the registrar to complete the necessary resolution tasks for the .CN domain name.
Mode 2: Use your own DNS resolution server to set up resolution.
(1) When a user registers a .CN domain name, he/she sets the DNS resolution server of the domain name to the DNS resolution server he/she already owns;
(2) Users can set up their own .CN domain name resolution servers to handle the resolution of .CN domain names.
Mode 3: Use SDNS service platform (www.sdns.cn).
(1) Users can log in to the SDNS service platform at www.sdns.cn and apply for a login account;
(2) Users can configure the A record, CNAME record, and MX record for .CN domain name resolution through the cloud resolution platform;
(3) A user, through the registrar, sets the DNS servers of the .CN domain name to the DNS resolution servers provided by the cloud resolution platform and completes the necessary resolution tasks for the .CN domain name.
IV. How to use a .CN domain name
If you visit the domain name in the form of "中文.CN", major global browsers such as IE7.0, IE8.0, Firefox, Opera, Google Chrome, and Safari already provide direct support. You can directly enter the domain name in the address bar to access the corresponding website, such as:
新华网.CN
Xinhua.CN
Additionally, the separators in a Chinese .CN domain name, including the half-width and full-width forms of the English character "." and the Chinese punctuation "。", are fully equivalent, e.g.:
新华网.CN
新华网.CN
新华网。CN
新华网。CN
新华网．CN
新华网．CN
The above domain names are equivalent and can lead to the same corresponding website.
Similarly, the simplified and traditional forms are equivalent, such as:
中国互联网络信息中心.CN
中國互聯網絡信息中心.CN
The above domain names in both Simplified Chinese and Traditional Chinese are equivalent and can lead to the same corresponding website.
For browsers below IE7.0, you need to type http://Chinese.CN in the address bar, and you will be redirected to the corresponding website through an intermediary page. For example: http://新华网.CN.
V. How to register .GOV domain name?
The .GOV domain under the .CN domain refers to domain names that represent Chinese government organizations, such as miit.gov.cn. The applicant must be a government or party organization.
When applying for a .GOV domain name, the following application materials must be submitted to the domain name registrar. High-quality electronic copies of the materials are required, such as scanned copies of the originals, color photocopies, or photographs:
(1) Domain Name Registration Application Form stamped with the official seal of the applying organization;
(2) Documents from the applying organization: Unified Social Credit Code Certificate (with the word "organization" included in the organization's designation);
(3) Identification materials of the contact person for the applying organization: ID card.
If there are other regulations from relevant state authorities, they will be implemented in accordance with those regulations. At the same time, our center will verify the authenticity and validity of the .GOV domain name registration information.
VI. How to Register Reserved Domain Names
A reserved domain name refers to a domain name reserved in accordance with the provisions of Article 27 and Article 28 of the China Internet Domain Name Regulations.
1. The applicant should contact the registrar to mail the original paper materials to our center. The application materials include:
(1) Domain Name Registration Application Form, stamped with the official seal of the applying organization;
(2) A color copy or scan of the registrant's identification information;
(3) A color copy or scan of the contact person's identification;
(4) A color copy or scan of any other documents supporting the reason for reserving the domain name.
2. Our center reviews the application materials.
The registrar submits the application materials to our center. If the audit is successful, our center will transfer the domain name to the registrar's database. If the application materials do not meet the requirements, the center will notify the registrar of the reasons for the audit failure. The audit will be completed within five working days from the receipt of the materials at our center.
VII. Considerations After Domain Name Registration
What should users pay attention to after .CN domain name registration is completed?
To ensure that domain name holders legally own their domain names and can use them for legitimate Internet applications, it is important to regularly check and update domain name information after registration, ensuring that the registration details are truthful, accurate, and complete.
1. Verify the accuracy of the domain name registration information through the “WHOIS Query" system on our center's website or the website of the registrar;
2. If there are any changes to the registration information, such as the registrant, contact person, or contact details, you should promptly notify the domain name registrar to update the information, ensuring its accuracy and the effectiveness of the domain name registration;
3. The password serves as a valid means of identification for domain name management. Please ensure that you securely store the management password and transfer password provided by the registrar, as these are used for managing and maintaining the domain name, as well as for transferring the domain to another registrar;
4. Stay in contact with your registrar to ensure that you can renew your domain name on time through its services.
According to the Implementing Rules of China ccTLD Registration, the domain name's expiration date each year will be the same as the registration date. The renewal confirmation period is 30 days after the domain name expires. If you provide written confirmation that you will not renew the domain name within the specified period, the registrar will cancel the domain name after 30 days. If you do not provide written confirmation and fail to renew the domain name within the specified period, the registrar will cancel the domain name on the expiration date of that period.
VIII. Common Business for Domain Names
1. How to transfer a .CN domain name?
.CN domain name transfer refers to the process of changing the domain name registrant information.
According to the Implementing Rules of China ccTLD Registration, Chapter IV, "Domain Name Changes and Cancellation", applications for domain name transfers must be submitted to the registrar to initiate the transfer process. The registrar should establish transfer rules and provide publicity regarding domain name transfers. It is responsible for auditing both parties' identities during the transfer application process. The registrar must complete the audit of the transfer application within three working days of receiving the application. If the audit is successful, the domain name holder will be changed accordingly.
You can submit the transfer materials to the registrar, including the identities of both transferring parties. The registrar will verify the transfer intent and the authenticity of the materials to complete the transfer. You can contact the domain name registrar to confirm the method for submitting transfer materials and the related business process.
2. How to change the registrar of a .CN domain name?
It refers to changing the registration service provider information associated with .CN domain names.
According to the Implementing Rules of China ccTLD Registration, the domain name registrar of the current registrant (hereinafter referred to as the transferring party) must, after verifying the identity and intent of the domain name holder applying for the transferring password, provide the correct password to the domain name holder within three working days. The registrar should not charge the domain name holder any fees for the transfer application.
You can contact the registrar (i.e., the registrar of the transferring party) to submit the required materials and obtain the transfer password. Then, provide the password to the receiving registrar to complete the registration transfer. For the conditions and requirements of domain name transfer, you can refer to Chapter 5 "Change of Registrars" of the Implementing Rules of China ccTLD Registration.
3. How to resolve domain name disputes?
Based on the China ccTLD Dispute Resolution Policy and the China ccTLD Dispute Resolution Policy Rules, disputes are resolved through the domain dispute resolution procedures. The domain name dispute resolution service providers are:
China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission: http://www.odr.org.cn
Hong Kong International Arbitration Center: http://www.hkiac.org
World Intellectual Property Organization Arbitration and Mediation Center: https://www.wipo.int/amc/zh/domains/cctld/cn/index.html
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