Should You Translate Your Video to Chinese to Grow Your Audience?

You’re a YouTube creator with a strong channel, steadily growing your audience, optimizing your videos, engaging with your community. But at some point, you hit a ceiling.

Growth slows, and no matter how much you tweak your strategy, your analytics barely budge. But here’s a massive audience out there – you just haven’t reached them yet.

Maybe you’ve been completely ignoring one of the biggest content-consuming audiences in the world. China.

The China Question: A Hidden Opportunity?

Now, before you roll your eyes and say, “YouTube is banned in China,” hear us out. You’re absolutely right – YouTube doesn’t exist there. But you know what does? Dozens of massive Chinese video platforms, each with hundreds of millions of active users.

Platforms like Tencent Video (560M users), Youku (139M users), iQIYI (168M users), Bilibili, Douyin (China’s version of TikTok), Xigua Video, and MangoTV make up China’s video ecosystem.

They are YouTube for China’s 1.4 billion people. And while Chinese creators dominate, there’s a serious lack of high-quality international content. Viewers want more, and platforms are actively looking for foreign content creators to help fill the gap.

The question is how to expand your audience in China the right way. So let's take a closer look.

Why Translate Videos to Chinese? The Revenue Potential

One of the key questions here is revenue. How much can you get distributing your videos to China? 

Chinese platforms don’t operate on YouTube’s AdSense model. Instead, monetization comes from a mix of ad revenue, exclusive contracts, and brand deals. The CPM rates vary – some platforms average around $0.50, but high-performing content can hit $4-$5 per 1,000 views.

Another revenue stream is licensing deals. If your content resonates, platforms may offer upfront payments for exclusive rights, essentially paying you before the audience even starts watching.

The potential is huge, but the challenge is that managing it all alone is tough. Navigating Chinese regulations, setting up monetization, and securing licensing deals requires a partner who understands the system.

Success Stories: How Creators Are Winning in China

We’ve helped dozens of top creators grow their audience with Chinese translation, and the results speak for themselves.

Take The Q, a DIY and experiments channel with over 13 million subscribers on YouTube. They wanted to tap into new markets without creating brand-new content. With our help, they expanded to Bilibili and Xigua Video, reaching millions of new viewers in just a few months from 1,35M views in September 2021 to 2,41M views in January. The creator also began receiving additional bonuses. By localizing their videos and securing an exclusive contract, they unlocked a new revenue stream – without uploading a single new video to YouTube.

Leina and Lina is a popular channel in the Kids & Teens space that started on YouTube, where it built up 102.4K subscribers. Back in February 2024, they expanded to iQiyi and Youku, and their content quickly racked up an average of 600 to 700 "heats" – a pretty impressive feat for that audience. Then, in March 2024, they further widened their reach by joining platforms like Skyworth, Huawei, JMGO, Konka, Xiaomi, and TCL, boosting their visibility even more.

Want to take your content global? AIR Media-Tech has helped creators reach hundreds of millions of subscribers by translating and localizing their content into over 50 languages. AIR Translate handles everything – from translation and dubbing to tailoring content for local audiences. Get in touch with us to find the best strategy for your channel and watch your reach and earnings soar!

Translation vs. Localization: What Most Creators Get Wrong

Many creators assume that simply adding Chinese subtitles for YouTube videos is enough to break into the market. That’s not how it works. If you’re serious about boosting growth in China, you need to go beyond subtitles – you need localization for Chinese viewers.

If you were watching a video, would you rather read subtitles at the bottom of the screen, or would you prefer a version in your native language? Most people choose the latter. That’s why Chinese voiceovers for YouTube content are so crucial for your videos.

Look at major kids' content creators – almost every successful foreign channel in China is dubbed, not subtitled. Why? Because localization for the Chinese YouTube audience goes beyond language – it’s about adapting content to feel native. Kids won’t read subtitles. Neither will many casual viewers. That’s why voiceovers always outperform subtitles when it comes to engaging a Chinese audience with subtitles.

Best Practices for Chinese Video Translation & Localization

To truly expand your audience in China, you need to:

Go Beyond Basic Translation

Use professional Chinese subtitles for YouTube videos and Mandarin voiceovers to make your content feel native.

Optimize for Local Platforms

Every platform has different rules, video specs, and algorithms. What works on YouTube won’t necessarily work in China.

Note! Creators cannot create accounts on most Chinese platforms themselves, we will do it for you with our Video Distribution to Chinese Platforms service.

Adapt Your Content

Humor, pop culture references, and pacing all differ. A joke that lands in English might not translate well into Mandarin subtitles for viewers.

Comply with Regulations

China has strict content policies. Political discussions, religious topics, and certain social issues are off-limits.

Work with a Trusted Partner

AIR Media-Tech can handle everything for you. Translation, localization, platform setup, and monetization – so you don’t have to navigate it alone.

We spent years building relationships with Chinese platforms, handling translations, securing distribution, and optimizing content for maximum revenue. We make sure your content isn’t just available in China – it’s profitable. Contact us today!

What You’ll Need to Succeed

So let’s say you’re convinced. You want in. What’s next?

If all of this sounds overwhelming, that’s because it is. Breaking into the Chinese market with video localization takes time, experience, and insider knowledge.

AIR Media-Tech helps creators distribute their content across all major Chinese platforms. We handle everything:

• Chinese subtitles for Mandarin viewers and professional voiceovers.
• Full localization for Chinese YouTube users, ensuring your content fits the market.
• Distribution to platforms like Tencent, Youku, iQIYI, and Bilibili – each with millions of potential viewers.
• Monetization strategies, so you start earning from Day 1.

The best part is you don’t have to do anything. We handle the translations, the licensing, the contracts – all of it. You keep creating on YouTube, and we make sure your content reaches millions of Chinese-speaking viewers and grows your audience with Chinese translation.

The Final Verdict: Should You Do It?

Translating your videos to Chinese is not a quick growth hack. It’s a long-term strategy that reaches Chinese-speaking viewers, when done right, opens the doors to a completely untapped audience. But if you think you can just toss some subtitles onto your videos and expect millions of views, you’re wasting your time.

The creators who succeed in China are the ones who treat it as a serious expansion, not an afterthought. They go beyond translation, they invest in voiceovers, they localize their content, and most importantly, they partner with experts who know the landscape.

Want to get started? Let’s take your content where it’s never been before. Reach out to AIR Media-Tech today and let’s turn your success into something even bigger!