CN Domain Name FAQ
I.About CN domain names
What are the domain names? What are second-level domain names, third-level domain names and sub-domain names? How to use our own domain names?
What are CN domain names?
What advantages to register CN domain names?
II.Select a CN domain name for registration
What categories of CN domain names? What CN-suffixed domain names can be registered?
What are the naming rules for CN domain?
How to choose the CN domain names to be registered?
III. How to register the CN domain names
What are the procedures for CN domain name registration?
IV.How to use 中文.CN domain names
V.How to register the GOV domains?
VI.How to register the protected domain?
VII.Tips after successful registration of the domain
After .CN domain has been successfully registered, what does the user need to pay attention to?
VIII. General Business FAQ
1. How to transfer registration of CN domain names?
2. How to change CN domain name registrar?
3. How to resolve the domain name dispute?
A domain name is similar to a house number on Internet, a hierarchical-structure character identification used to identify and locate the computer and corresponding to the Internet Protocol (IP) address of the computer. But compared with the IP address, it is more convenient for users to understand and memorize.
The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) undertakes to manage and coordinate the international Internet domain name system and assign the top-level domain names in the Internet domain name system, including:
The country and regional code top level domain names (referred to as ccTLD) correspond to the geographical location of a country and region, such as, .CN/.中国 represent China, .US represents the United States of America;
The generic top level domain names (referred to as gTLD) correspond to different types, more frequently, such as, .COM, .NET and .ORG. In recent years, ICANN has added some top level domain name types according to the requirements of the domain name system, such as, .BIZ and .INFO.
A domain name can be assigned with sub-domain names, and the users can customize such domain names or seek help from registrars. Sub-domain names are the relative concept compared to the parent domain names, whose secondary levels are called as sub-domain names. Each domain name has many levels separated by an English period “.” in between, for example, ewhois.cnnic.cn is a sub-domain name of cnnic.cn. Domain names are classified as the basic Internet services, able to provide such application services as WWW, EMAIL and FTP based on domain names, including:
1. Making your own or your own entity’s homepage;
2. Making your own or your own entity’s e-mail system, to achieve the functions of mail receiving, mail sending and external contacts;
3. Use in enterprise and product promotion, for example: to display your own or your own entity’s homepage.
4. Domain names can be pointed to your own Weibo or web space.
What are CN domain names?
The CN domain names are Chinese top level domain names, featuring the domain names with .CN as the suffix, including the second-level domain names directly registered under .CN and the third-level domain names registered under the .CN second-level domain names.
CN is the Country Code Top Level Domain(ccTLD), representing China. China Internet Network Information Center (CNNIC), as the .CN registry, responsible for the operation and administration of .CN domain name system, and maintenance of central database.
What advantages to register CN domain names?
1. Conducive to China’s national Internet information security;
2. Applicable to China’s laws for full protection of the users’ interests;
3. Full Chinese services to protect the right of users to be informed;
4. The .CN domain name is rich in resources, with satisfactory domain names available;
5. Significant function of identification can reflect your own values and positioning.
II. Select a CN domain name for registration
What categories of CN domain names? What CN-suffixed domain names can be registered?
1. You can directly register the .CN-suffixed second-level domain names, for example: cnnic.cn,互联网博物馆.CN. It features a short and easy structure to memorize, and can highlight the Chinese concept;
2. Under the CN top level domain names, you can set such two categories of second-level domain names in English as “category domain names” and “administrative region domain names”.
（1）The category domain names refer to such domain names in accordance with the nature of the entity applicant , totally7,respectively:
AC.CN - for example,Computer Network Information Center of the Chinese Academy of Sciences：cnic.ac.cn;
COM.CN - for example,Industrial and Commercial Bank of China Limited：icbc.com.cn;
EDU.CN - for example,Peking University：pku.edu.cn;
GOV.CN - for example,Central People's Government of the People's Republic of China：www.gov.cn;
MIL.CN - for example,Military Museum of the Chinese People’s Revolution：junbo.mil.cn;
NET.CN - for example,China Internet Network Information Center：cnnic.net.cn;
ORG.CN– for example,China Computer Federation:ccf.org.cn
Special tips for category domain names registration:
The third level domain names registered under “.GOV.CN”shall meet the requirement of Article 2 of Chapter 3 of CNNIC Implementing Rules of Domain Name Registration. For detailed requirement, please see note below:How to register the GOV domains?
The rules for the third level domain names registered under “.EDU.CN” are stipulated separately by the China Education and Research Network.
The rules for the third level domain names registered under “.MIL.CN” are stipulated separately by China Greatwall Internet.
(2)The administrative region domain names refer to those domain names assigned in accordance with abbreviation of each administrative region in China, totally 34, applicable to China's 34 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the central government.
Respectively: 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 - Yunnan; 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; HK.CN - Hongkong Special Administrative Region; MO.CN - Macao Special Administrative Region;
For example: Beijing's institutions may choose such domain names as online.bj.cn.
What are the naming rules for CN domain?
1. Users can comply with the naming rules of simply using or combining with English letters (A-Z, case-insensitive), Arabic numerals (0-9) and half-angle hyphen “-” (i.e., middle transverse line), but not spaces and special characters (such as!, $, & and ?);
2. “-” can not appear continuously, separately registered or placed at the beginning or end;
3. At most 63 characters can be registered.The maximum length for 中文.CN registration should be calculated after transferred into punycode. The transcoding method refers to "Online Transcoding of Chinese Domain Names".
How to choose the CN domain names to be registered?
You can select a CN domain name for registration according to your own needs and preferences, such as:
1.Vocabulary able to significantly mark the products or brands of the registrant, such as coca-cola.com.cn,青岛啤酒.cn;
2.Vocabulary directly marking the registrant, such as, full spelling of an individual's name in English and in Chinese: 姚明.cn,liming.cn, and full spelling of an entity's name in English and in Chinese or abbreviated forms as 中央电视台.cn, sina.com.cn.
In order to encourage individual users to pay close attention to the civil rights and interests related to their names, and promote the use of the domain names corresponding to the names by more relevant people, our Center supports such behaviors of the individuals to register the domain names related to their names. The name-related domain names refer to those domain names registered by individuals strongly related to their names, including corresponding English and Chinese pinyin.
3. Advertising language of an enterprise or product, for example, imaginationatwork.cn;
4. Service number to highlight a corporate outreaching promotion, for example, 10086.cn;
5. Such network popular words easy to remember as 520.cn.
III. How to register the CN domain names
What are the procedures for CN domain name registration?
1.Select the name and registration term of a domain name to be registered
The CN domain name shall follow the principle of “first application for the first registration”.
The CN domain names can be registered for service up to 10 years, you can freely select the registration term within 10 years(with “year” as the unit).
2.Log in our web site “WHOIS lookup” to inquiry the domain name information
You can log in our website (www1.cnnic.cn) and use the “WHOIS lookup” to verify the registration results of the domain name.
Case I: When the inquired domain name is not registered, it will prompt “The info does not exist”, and then you can try submitting application to registrar. The details are shown below:
Case 2: When the inquired domain name has been registered, it will display the inquired domain name registration information. At this point, you can take the measures as follows:
(1) Add “-”, Chinese characters, letters or numbers to the domain name already registered, or change for another combination to try submitting application for registration;
(2) Contact the “registrant” of this domain name displayed in the WHOIS lookup results to resolve through consultation.
Case 3: When the inquired domain name is subject to the protective registration, it means that such domain name can only be registered by the corresponding protected entity. When the
inquired domain name is subject to prohibited registration, it means that any user can not apply for registration. For details, contact our Center or registrar for confirmation. The details are as shown below:
For detailed requirement for protected domain registration, please see note below: How to register the protected domain?
3. Select a satisfactory registrar on the accredited registrar list of our Center.
The registrar refers to the entity able to approach domain name registration, directly complete registration of domain names in domestic China.
CN domain names are subject to the oriented-market price, the registrars will develop a reasonable price based on the market conditions. You can get access for information about domestic and overseas registrars through our website and Select a satisfactory registrar to handle domain name registration.
Domestic registrars:
http://www1.cnnic.cn/IS/CNym/CNymzcfwjgsq/201305/t20130509_39446.htm
Overseas registrars:
http://www1.cnnic.cn/syjszc1/List/201210/t20121011_36680.htm
4. Contact a registrar and submit domain name registration data
When applying for domain name registration, you should submit the following information to a registrar in a written or electronic form:
(1) Applied domain name;
(2) Hostnames and IP addresses of the primary and auxiliary server;
(3) If the applicant is an individual,, the name, address, telephone, e-mail and other relevant information should be submitted; if the applicant is an entity, the entity name, organization code certificate, address, e-mail and phone number should be submitted;
(4) Name, address, email and phone number of the applicant's administrative contact, technical contact, billing contact and purveyor contact;
(5) Domain name registration term.
The domain name registration application may be different among registrars.You can confirm the submission way of domain name registration application with your registrar.
5. Sign a domain name registration agreement and keep the relevant documents
While handling domain name services, it is recommended that you sign a registration agreement or contract with your registrar online or in written form, and keep the relevant documents, in order to better safeguard your rights and interests.
6. Submit authentic, accurate and complete registration and application information
While submitting registration application to the registrar, you should submit the application materials as required, usually including:
(1) Personal identification: identification card front page (copied or scanned);
(2) Organization’s identification: Organization Code Certificate (copied or scanned) or business license (copied or scanned);
(3) Other information related to domain name registration application
7. Verify the domain name registration information
Registrant shall check whether the name, registration term and contact email is authentic, accurate and complete. The application information shall be completely consistent with the registration data in the “WHOIS lookup” system.You can verify the submitted registration information as follows:
(1) Our Center’s website “WHOIS lookup” system;
(2)“WHOIS lookup” system on the registrar’s website.
8. Pay close attention to domain name auditing results
Approval of the domain name verification must meet the following requirements:
(1) The domain name shall accord with the requirements of China Internet Domain Name Regulations(MIIT Order No.30);
(2) The domain name registration information should be authentic, accurate and complete, and identification information can pass through the data validation by Chinese authorities;
(3) The application materials should match the registration data in the “WHOIS lookup” system.
Once the domain name online application is submitted,the registrar will make initial verification of the domain name registration information and data. After the domain name has passed through the verification, the registrar will submit the application documents to CNNIC for further verification, CNNIC finishes reviewing the domain name registration information and data in one working days.
You can pay close attention to the verification progress and status of your domain name through the registrar.
9. After the domain name registration is completed, pay close attention to the record and verification results through the ICP record management system of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology
If your domain name has passed through the verification, it indicates that the domain name has been successfully registered. The domain name itself does not need to be recorded. However, if you use the domain name for any website application, your website shall be recorded according to the relevant requirements of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology of the People’s Republic of China for website management.
The website record is not undertaken or approved by our Center. The user should contact the relevant Internet service provider (ISP) or registrar to complete the website record through the provincial communications authorities.
10. Enable domain name resolution and start using the domain name
After you have completed the CN domain name registration procedures through the registrar, you should configure the CN domain name resolution before use specifically as follows:
Mode 1: Set resolution through the DNS server of the registrar (recommended).
(1) The user can set the DNS server of the CN domain through the registrar as the DNS resolution server provided by the registrar;
(2) Based on the resolution function provided by the registrar, the user can set the CN domain resolution A records /CNAME records /MX records to complete the related CN domain resolution work.
Mode 2: Use your own DNS resolution server to set resolution.
(1) While registering a CN domain, the user can set the DNS domain resolution server as his own existing DNS resolution server;
(2) The user configures the CN DNS server on his own to complete the CN domain related resolution work.
Mode 3: Use the national domain cloud DNS platform (www.cdns.cn).
(1) The user can login the national domain cloud DNS platform (www.cdns.cn) to apply for a login account;
(2) The user can set the CN domain resolution A records /CNAME records /MX records through the cloud DNS platform;
(3) Through the registrar, the user can set the DNS server of the CN domain as the DNS resolution server provided by the cloud DNS platform to complete the CN domain related resolution work.
IV.How to use 中文.CN domain names
Currently, the global mainstream browsers, such as IE7.0, IE8.0, Firefox, Opera, Google Chrome and Safari, have already achieved direct support to 中文.CN domain names. You can directly enter the 中文.CN domain name in the address bar to get direct access to the corresponding website, such as:
清华大学.CN
光明网.CN
卫生部.CN
淘宝网.CN
Besides, in the中文.CN domain name delimiters, the half-angle and full-angle “.” in English is equivalent to the Chinese period “。”, such as:
清华大学.CN
清华大学。CN
清华大学．CN
Domains above are equivalent and can get access to the same website accordingly.
The simplified and traditional Chinese domain names are equivalent either.For example:
光明网.CN
光明網.CN
中央电视台.CN
中央電視台.CN
Domains above are equivalent and can get access to the same website accordingly.
In case of IE 6.0 or lower browsers, then you need to enter http:// 中文.CN in the address bar, and guided by the page, you can reach the corresponding website, for example: http://www.新华网.cn.
V. How to register the GOV domains?
The GOV domains under the CN domains namely refer to such domains representing Chinese government agencies as miit.gov.cn. The applicants should be the administrative legal persons or the public institutions implementing the administrative functions as regulated by laws and administrative regulations.
In application for a GOV domain, the following application materials should be submitted to the registrar as required:
(1) Domain Registration Form sealed by the applicant; download;
(2) Organization’s identification: Organization Code Certificate (copied or scanned)
(3) Applicant’s contact identification: identification card front page (copied or scanned);
(4) When the same applicant is applying for registration of five (inclusive) or more GOV domains, the applicant should offer a list of the organizational users respectively corresponding to such domains with the applicant seal attached.
At the same time, our Center will verify the authenticity and effectiveness of the GOV domain registration information.
VI. How to register the protected domain?
Protected domain names refer to certain words related to interests of the nation and the civil society,CNNIC may take necessary measures to protect them according to China Internet Domain Name Regulations.
1. The applicant shall post the original application materials to the registrar including:
(1) Domain Registration Form sealed by the applicant; download
(2) Registrant’s identification;
(3) Registrant contact’s identification;
(4) Other materials matching the reasons for protection of the domain
2. Our Center audits the application documents
The registrar will submit the application materials to our Center, and if qualified, our Center will transfer the domain to the database of the registrar. If the application materials are not qualified, our Center will notify the registrar of the reasons. The auditing time will be three working days since our Center receives the relevant materials.
VII. Tips after successful registration of the domain.
After .CN domain has been successfully registered, what does the user need to pay attention to?
In order to ensure the registrant’s legitimate rights and interests to legally hold the domain and properly implement the Internet applications, you shall pay attention to any change of the domain information after registration to ensure that the domain registration information be authentic, accurate and complete.
1. You should verify whether the domain registration information is correct through the “WHOIS lookup” on our Center’s website or the registrar;
2. If the registration information has any change, such as the registrant, registrant contact and contact ways, timely notification shall be submitted to the registrar for correction to ensure the effectiveness of the domain registration information;
3. The password acts as a valid ID for handling of the domain services, so please properly keep the management password provided by the registrar for domain management and maintenance, as well as the auth-code used to transfer the registrar;
4. Keep smooth contact with your registrar to ensure timely renewal;
According to the provisions in CNNIC Implementing Rules of Domain Name Registration, the annual maturity day will be the day for application. The maturity day follows the renewal confirmation day that lasts for 30 days. If you show the intent not to renew in written within the above-mentioned period, your registrar has the right to cancel the domain in 30 days; if you don’t show the intent not to renew the payment in written or you have not renewed the payment, the registrar has the right to cancel the domain on the maturity date of the above-mentioned period.
VIII. General Business FAQ
1. How to transfer registration of CN domain names?
Transfer of registration of domain names refers to changing domain name holder's registration information.
According to Chapter 4 Domain Name Changes and Cancellation in CNNIC Implementing Rules of Domain Name Registration, any organization that applies for domain name transfer shall submit the valid and effective application form for domain name transfer and identification. Registrars shall audit when receiving the materials above within three working days and change the domain name holder after the qualified auditing result.
You can submit materials required for domain name holder change and identification to your current registrar. After the qualified auditing your will and materials, the registrar will help you transfer registration of domain name.Please confirm the change way and handling procedures with your current registrar.
2. How to change CN domain name registrar?
Change CN domain name registrar means transfering your domain name from one registrar to another, that is the change of registrar information.
The original registrar (hereinafter referred to as the transferor) shall send the correct transfer code to the management contact email of the domain name registration information within three working days after receiving a valid application submitted by the domain name holder, and shall not charge for the transfer.
You can get the transfer code by submitting qualified materials required for registrar changing, and pass the correct transfer code to the transferee to complete registrar changing.For requirements and materials mentioned above, please see note to Chapter 5 Changing of Registrars in CNNIC Implementing Rules of Domain Name Registration.
3.How to resolve the domain name dispute?
Resolve the domain name dispute through the domain name dispute resolution procedures on the basis of Rules for CNNIC Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy and CNNIC Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy. The entities for domain name dispute resolution are as follows:
China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission, http://www.odr.org.cn
Hongkong International Arbitration Centre, http://www.hkiac.org
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