There are now 136 million Internet users in China (In a couple of weeks the China Internet Networking Information Center will come with its half yearly report on the number of users so there will be something to compare). The total spending by individual Internet users in China in 2006 rose by nearly 50 percent to 276.7 billion Renminbi (US$35.51 billion). Included in this amount are the cost of online shopping, games, cell phone ring tones, and all other cyberspace services.

The majority of the Internet users are young and most of the rest of the money will probably go to gaming and ringtones. In 2005 the average spending was 158 Renminbi. The good news is that there is growth but it will take some more time for the big online shopping boom sets in.

Online advertising (excluding Search Engines) showed a growth of more than 50 percent. In 2005 advertisers spend 3.3 billion (US$423.4 million) and in 2006 more than 5 billion Renminbi (US$641.5 million) found its way to Chinese websites. The main constant is that the number of Internet users is growing fast. Online shopping and advertising still has some catching up to do.

Source:未知