Over the past decade, China's internet landscape has evolved rapidly, and so has CDN technology. For companies operating overseas that need to ensure a smooth experience for their Chinese users, one question remains a constant pain point:

"Which CDN will make our site load faster for users in China?"

Many developers think it's as simple as "just add a CDN." But in China, it's never that straightforward.

Network regulations, the "North-South" divide in domestic connectivity, cross-border links, and differences between internet service providers (ISPs)—any one of these can significantly impact your website's speed.

Based on real-world speed test data and analysis of typical scenarios, this article will tell you:

Which CDNs are most friendly to Chinese users?

Which are suitable for cross-border business?

How to choose for different use cases?

1. The Real Challenges of China's Network Environment & Using CDNs

First, let's clarify a few issues unique to China's network to help international teams understand:

1) Cross-Border Access Bottlenecks Are Real

Access from mainland China to overseas websites must pass through international gateways.

These links are prone to congestion during peak evening hours, causing latency to spike.

Therefore, relying solely on overseas CDN nodes makes it difficult to guarantee stable speeds for mainland users.

2) China's Domestic ISPs Are Not Fully Interconnected

Most Chinese users are served by three major carriers:

• China Telecom
• China Unicom
• China Mobile

However, the interconnection quality between them isn't always perfect, sometimes resulting in:

• Fast speeds for Telecom users
• Slow speeds for Mobile users
• Lag for Unicom users

This means: A CDN that performs well for one carrier may not be ideal for all Chinese users.

3) Mainland Nodes vs. Overseas Nodes: A Huge Difference

If a CDN has legally operated nodes within mainland China (requiring ICP filing), speeds can be excellent.

If your site lacks this filing, you're restricted to nodes outside mainland China (e.g., Hong Kong).

This is a critical point many foreign companies overlook.

2. Top 5 CDNs Most Friendly to Chinese Users

Note: All data is from real-world Q4 2025 tests (across Telecom/Unicom/Mobile networks), with composite scoring based on cross-border access patterns.

🥇 #1: CDN07 (Best Overall for Cross-Border Access from China)

Website: https://www.cdn07.com/

Why it's good for Chinese users:

• Has "China-proximate" nodes in Hong Kong, Japan, and Singapore
• Specifically optimized for China cross-border access
• Features dedicated routing algorithms optimized for all three major carriers (Telecom/Unicom/Mobile)
• Stable performance for small files, APIs, and video
• Strong DDoS protection capabilities

Best for:

• Overseas websites needing fast access for Chinese users
• Sites unable to obtain ICP filing
• Cross-border e-commerce, SaaS, and live streaming businesses
• Services experiencing severe API latency/jitter

The closest to a "best-in-class unofficial choice" for non-filed sites.

🥈 #2: Akamai (The Most China-Friendly Major International Brand)

Website: https://www.akamai.com/

Strengths:

• Unmatched global network scale
• Partnerships providing nodes within China
• One of the best intelligent routing systems

Weaknesses:

• Very expensive
• Significant cost pressure for smaller companies

Best for:

• Multinational corporations, banks, public companies
• Brand-sensitive operations requiring strict SLA guarantees

🥉 #3: Cloudflare (Clear Strengths, But Cross-Border Speed Fluctuates)

Website: https://www.cloudflare.com/

Strengths:

• Largest global CDN deployment
• Powerful security features
• Simple and user-friendly
• Cost-effective pricing

Weaknesses:

• Unstable cross-border links into China
• Peak-hour latency spikes for Telecom users

Best for:

• Content-light, API-driven services
• Startups and developer projects
• Global user base > China-specific user base

#4: Fastly (Technologically Strong, But Not Ideal for China)

Website: https://www.fastly.com/

Strengths:

• Excellent edge computing and VCL rule capabilities
• Extremely fast in the US and Europe

Weaknesses:

• Access stability from China is average
• No special optimization for cross-border links

Best for:

• Primary user base in the US/Europe
• API-heavy applications
• Services requiring complex rule logic

#5: Alibaba Cloud CDN (Fastest Within Mainland, But Requires ICP Filing)

Website: https://www.alibabacloud.com/

Strengths:

• Fastest speeds within mainland China
• Largest number of nodes domestically
• Excellent interconnection with domestic carriers

Weaknesses:

• Cannot use mainland nodes without ICP filing
• Slower for overseas visitors
• Configuration experience less friendly for non-Chinese speakers

Best for:

• Companies with a legal entity in China
• Those able to complete ICP filing
• Business primarily targeting mainland China

3. Real-World Cross-Border Speed Tests (Telecom / Unicom / Mobile)

Test files: 100KB / 1MB / 5MB Regions: Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu Using identical baseline configurations

Conclusion: If you cannot obtain ICP filing (most foreign companies can't) → CDN07 > Akamai > Cloudflare If you can obtain ICP filing → Alibaba Cloud mainland nodes are unmatched

4. How to Choose for Different Scenarios? (A Simple Decision Guide for International Teams)

✔ Scenario 1: Overseas Website + Majority of Visitors in China

Choose: CDN07 (First Choice) / Akamai (Higher Budget)

Reason: Solving cross-border link issues is key.

✔ Scenario 2: Cross-Border E-commerce / High Latency for Chinese Users on Your Overseas Site

Choose: CDN07

Reason: Optimized for e-commerce scenarios (lots of small files, images, APIs).

✔ Scenario 3: Cannot File ICP, But Want Speeds Close to Mainland Performance

Choose: Hong Kong Node + Intelligent Routing CDN e.g., CDN07 / Cloudflare (with Argo Smart Routing)

✔ Scenario 4: Can File ICP, Business Primarily in Mainland China

Choose: Alibaba Cloud Mainland Nodes

Reason: Nothing beats carrier-cooperative networks within mainland China.

✔ Scenario 5: Global Business, China is Just One Market

Choose: Cloudflare

Reason: Best overall value and global stability.

5. Why Aren't All CDNs Good for Chinese Users?

Because China's network environment is fundamentally different from the West:

• ISP interconnection structure
• Cross-border gateway bandwidth
• Regulatory and filing (ICP) system
• The huge gap between local vs. overseas acceleration

In other words:

A CDN that seems "blazing fast" in the US or Europe can feel painfully slow for users in China.

This is precisely why there's strong demand for CDNs specialized in optimizing access for China.

6. Summary: The Simplest Answer for International Developers

If you want:

✔ Fast access for mainland users without ICP filing

CDN07 > Akamai > Cloudflare

✔ Can file ICP, 95% of business is in mainland China

Alibaba Cloud mainland nodes

✔ Global user base, China is not a primary focus

Cloudflare

Here's the simplest way to decide:

Do you need to serve users in China? If "yes," you can't choose a CDN using a purely Western market perspective.

FAQ:

1. Why do many globally renowned CDNs have mediocre speeds from China?

China's cross-border network gateways have limited capacity, prone to congestion during peak evening hours. Combined with the inconsistent interconnection between the three major carriers (Telecom, Unicom, Mobile), overseas CDNs without specific optimization for Chinese links naturally deliver unstable speeds.

2. Can a non-filed website still use local Chinese CDN nodes?

No. Websites without ICP filing cannot activate mainland China nodes. They must rely on "China-proximate" nodes in places like Hong Kong, Japan, or Singapore. This is a major reason why many foreign companies experience suboptimal speeds.

3. What's most critical for an overseas website to be faster for Chinese users?

It's not "having enough nodes," but "optimizing the cross-border link." If this step isn't smooth, Chinese user speeds will suffer. Choosing a CDN specialized in China cross-border acceleration is often more effective than choosing the largest global brand.

4. What's the difference between CDN07, Akamai, and Cloudflare in China?

• CDN07: Specializes in China cross-border optimization, most stable across all three major networks.
• Akamai: Commonly used by large enterprises, but expensive.
• Cloudflare: Exceptionally strong globally, but cross-border links into China can be inconsistent. Performance differences are clear based on budget and target regions.

5. If only some of my users are in China, do I still need specific optimization?

Yes, if traffic from China exceeds 15% of your total. High cross-border latency can negatively impact critical actions like payments, registrations, and API requests, dragging down overall conversion rates.

6. What's the speed difference between mainland China nodes and Hong Kong nodes?

It's significant. Mainland node latency is typically 20–40ms, while Hong Kong node latency is usually 80–150ms. Sites that cannot file for ICP are restricted to Hong Kong/overseas nodes, making a CDN with cross-border algorithm optimization even more crucial.

7. Are your speed test results credible?

Data was gathered from real residential/office networks across Telecom, Unicom, and Mobile carriers in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Chengdu, using identical test files and timeframes. Results reflect actual user experience.