What Hao123.com does

Hao123.com is a Chinese internet navigation portal (网址导航) that aggregates categorized links to thousands of popular Chinese websites across verticals including news, video, music, gaming, e-commerce, travel, education, finance, and social media. The site integrates Baidu-powered search functionality, real-time weather data with AQI, trending hot topics from Baidu search, and practical utilities (IP lookup, calculators, express delivery tracking, stock quotes, tax calculators). Founded in 1999 and headquartered in Beijing, Hao123 operates as a subsidiary within Baidu's portfolio and is recognized as one of the most visited websites in China, with the positioning 'Internet starts here' (上网从这里开始).

The platform is built as a single consolidated web portal interface rather than a modular product suite, with categorized link directories and embedded utilities serving as the core technology layer. Distribution is achieved through browser default homepage placements, device manufacturer pre-installation partnerships, and ISP partnerships, supplemented by direct web access. The site has recently begun surfacing AI products (including Baidu's Wenxin assistant and external tools such as Doubao, Deepseek, and Qianwen) as featured directory entries, signaling a shift toward AI tool discovery.

The business model is free to end users and monetized through advertising and promotional link placements, affiliate/referral commissions (notably with e-commerce platforms such as Taobao, JD.com, and Tmall), and traffic distribution to Baidu search and other Baidu-owned services, generating advertising revenue share within the parent ecosystem.

Name

Hao123.com

Legal name

Hao123.com

Website

https://hao123.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Hao123.com is a Baidu-owned Chinese internet navigation portal that aggregates categorized links to popular websites across verticals, providing Chinese consumers with a curated entry point to search, e-commerce, video, news, and utilities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Web Directory / Navigation Portal

NAICS

Web Search Portals and All Other Information Services (519290), Web Search Portals, Libraries, Archives, and Other Information Services (5192)

akta.pro primary industry

POI, Local Listings & Business Directory Platforms (BPAMANAD)

Keywords

• Web directory
• Navigation portal
• Traffic aggregation
• Search gateway
• Online content aggregation

Headquarters

HQ city

Beijing

HQ country

China

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Advertising and Promotional Links: The site generates revenue through paid placement of links and promotional spots for various services. Featured sections like 'AI Collection', e-commerce deals, and gaming links appear to include affiliate and sponsored placements.
2. Affiliate Revenue: Revenue through affiliate links for e-commerce platforms (Taobao, JD.com, Tmall) and other commercial services, earning commissions for referred traffic and transactions.
3. Traffic Distribution: The platform distributes user traffic to Baidu's search engine and other Baidu-owned services, generating value through search advertising revenue share.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Hao123.com is a free Chinese web navigation portal that aggregates categorized directory links to popular Chinese websites and online services across 30+ verticals including news, video, music, gaming, e-commerce, travel, education, finance, and social media. The site integrates Baidu-powered search, real-time weather (with AQI and 5-day forecast), trending news from Baidu hot topics, and quick-access utilities such as IP lookup, calculators, exchange rates, courier tracking, stock quotes, and tax calculators. The product is free to end users and monetized through advertising placements, affiliate referrals, and traffic distribution to Baidu's search and partner platforms.

Product overview

Hao123.com is a single unified internet navigation portal website (网址导航) operated by Baidu. The site serves as a personalized launchpad for internet users, providing categorized directory links to popular websites and online services across multiple verticals including news, video, music, gaming, shopping, travel, education, finance, and social media. It features a search bar powered by Baidu Search, displays local weather information, curates news content, and provides quick-access shortcuts to frequently used web services. The product is free to end users and monetized through advertising and referral links. It does not operate as a platform with modular products but rather as a single consolidated web portal interface.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Hao123 Web Navigation Portal A free, unified Chinese internet navigation portal that aggregates categorized links to popular websites across 30+ verticals (video, news, e-commerce, gaming, travel, finance, social, utilities), integrates Baidu-powered search and trending topics, displays real-time weather with AQI and 5-day forecast, and provides practical utilities (IP lookup, calculator, exchange rates, courier tracking, stock quotes, tax calculator). Targeted at Chinese internet users who want a low-friction launchpad to commonly used websites; monetized via advertising placements, affiliate referrals, and traffic distribution to Baidu's ecosystem.

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Qihoo 360: Major Chinese internet security and browser company whose 360 Browser and 360 Navigation directly compete with Hao123 for homepage and OEM distribution. Provides broader platform context for navigation-portal monetization.
• Google: Operates the global web search portal and homepage ecosystem that conceptually mirrors Hao123's role as an internet entry point. While not directly competing in mainland China, it is the global reference point for search-and-discovery gateway business models.
• Baidu: Hao123's parent and primary monetization partner via search ad revenue share. Operates the dominant Chinese search engine and ecosystem of vertical apps, into which Hao123 routes traffic.
• Tencent: Owns competing navigation properties (Sogou Navigation, QQ Browser homepage) and is the dominant Chinese internet platform via WeChat and QQ. Competes indirectly for default-browser and pre-install distribution slots.

Emerging players

• UC Browser: Alibaba-owned mobile browser with a built-in navigation hub similar to Hao123. Comparable as a mobile-centric web portal and traffic gateway for Chinese users, particularly in lower-tier cities.
• Shenma (神马搜索): Mobile-first search and content discovery platform from Alibaba-affiliated UC, serving as a mobile analog to Hao123's directory-plus-search model. Comparable in aggregating links and serving as an entry point, but optimized for the mobile super-app ecosystem.

Direct peers

• Sogou Navigation (搜狗导航): Web navigation portal operated by Sogou/Tencent, offering categorized links to Chinese websites plus integrated Sogou search. Competes head-to-head with Hao123 for Chinese user homepage real estate and advertising dollars.
• 360 Navigation (360导航): Direct Chinese web-navigation portal operated by Qihoo 360, offering a near-identical curated directory of popular Chinese websites, utilities and trending topics. Closest functional competitor for browser-default homepage and OEM pre-installation slots in China.
• 2345网址导航 (2345 Navigation): One of the longest-running Chinese web directories, monetized through paid links and bundled software distribution. Directly comparable model, audience and distribution channels (browser bundles, OEM pre-installs) to Hao123.

Others

• Yahoo: Historical web portal whose directory-and-curated-content model is the closest global analog to Hao123. Useful as a reference for both the scale potential and the secular decline of PC-era navigation portals.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/hao123japan
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/shenzhen-hua-sirui-technology-co-ltd

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Hao123.com