Live streaming is one of the most powerful ways for brands to connect with audiences in real time, with many relying on platforms like Vimeo, YouTube, and others to reach viewers worldwide.

However, reaching audiences in mainland China introduces complications. And many teams discover (often too late) that what works well elsewhere simply does not load, or loads extremely slowly, for users in China. For brands targeting Chinese audiences, a poorly performing video stream can cause viewers to churn or suffer through a poor viewing experience.

But there are ways to make your live stream work in China without needing to uproot your current live stream platform or change your tech stack.

What we’ll cover in this article is why live streaming from global platforms into China doesn't work well, how to make live streaming work in China, and how other brands we’ve worked with made their live streams truly global with Chinafy.

*Disclaimer: This guide is informational and does not constitute legal advice. Chinafy is not a legal or corporate advisory entity, and, given that every business is different, we suggest consulting with your internal legal counsel if you would like advice on any legal or compliance-related concerns, or alternatively, we can connect you with one of our partners.

Why live streaming into China is different

China’s internet environment operates differently from the rest of the world. Certain platforms and services that are common globally, like Vimeo or YouTube, are either inaccessible or slow to load within mainland China.

And even using third parties that aren’t officially blocked in China, live video, which depends on stable, high-speed data transmission, is particularly affected by the network differences in and out of mainland China.

That’s why even companies using reputable global infrastructure providers, like Akamai, or Cloudflare, often find that their live streams lag, buffer endlessly, or fail to start altogether when accessed from China.

Why some global platforms don’t work in China (like Vimeo and YouTube)

Vimeo and YouTube, even when embedded on another site, are currently inaccessible in China. They are made inaccessible at the domain level, meaning using a video player widget, iframe or API that requires the blocked domain will lead to the same result – a video that doesn’t load as expected. Similarly, hundreds of other third-party resources are slow to load or inaccessible in China, which is usually the main reason why many websites, including their videos and live streams, fail to load as desired for viewers in mainland China.

How Chinafy enables live streaming for viewers in China

Chinafy is a solution specifically focused on making websites, including video and live stream, load fast and fully in China.

For live streaming, all you have to do is push your output streams to Chinafy’s RTMP endpoint and stream key:

For global visitors, they will still see the original video platform (for example, if you’re using Vimeo Live).

For viewers in mainland China, they will receive the stream through a China-friendly player, optimised for China. That means you can stream simultaneously through your existing global platform (e.g., Vimeo) and to Chinafy for reliable playback in mainland China.

For video-on-demand (VOD), Chinafy can automatically detect embedded video players (like Vimeo or YouTube) and convert them into non-branded, China-friendly equivalents so that visitors inside China can watch them in the same way as global viewers.

In both cases, live or on-demand, using Chinafy means you don’t need to make changes to your existing global setup and can still achieve high-quality playback for China viewers.

FAQ: How to make a live stream work in China

Do I need a separate website to make my live stream work in China?

No, you don’t need to build or maintain a second China-specific website. Chinafy can create an intelligent, optimized version of your existing site that works in China. Both versions stay in sync, so your global audience and your China audience see the same experience.

If you have VOD videos embedded on your existing site (e.g., via Vimeo or another player), Chinafy automatically detects and replaces elements that don’t load in China with functional, China-friendly equivalents.

For live streams, Chinafy offers a specific solution that will depend on how your live stream is configured (more on this below).

What’s the difference between making live stream work in China versus VOD (video-on-demand)?

Whether your audience is watching live or on-demand, Chinafy ensures both experiences work end-to-end in China but the processes are slightly different.

For live streaming, Chinafy can provide an RTMP endpoint and stream key for you to push to. That means you can stream simultaneously through your existing global platform (e.g., Vimeo) and to Chinafy for reliable playback in mainland China.

For video-on-demand (VOD), Chinafy automatically detects embedded video players (like Vimeo or Wistia) on the domain you provide us and converts them into non-branded, China-friendly equivalents so that visitors inside China can watch them just as easily.

Do I need two separate output streams - one for global and one for China?

Yes! The process is straightforward if you’re using an encoder or platforms like Vimeo Livestream Studio that support multi-casting. This means you can stream to your global audience and concurrently send a parallel stream to Chinafy for viewers in China.

Because platforms like Vimeo and YouTube don’t stream reliably (or at all) in mainland China, Chinafy sets up a parallel output:

One stream continues through your global provider for audiences everywhere else.

The second stream (RTMP) runs through Chinafy’s infrastructure for audiences in China.

This dual setup ensures performance and reliability for all viewers without forcing you to rearchitect your entire video workflow.

Is 4K streaming possible in China?

Technically, 4K streaming is achievable through Chinafy. However, the achievable quality depends on several factors, including the viewer’s local bandwidth, network stability, and event concurrency.

Can I use a CDN to make video or live stream work in China?

A CDN can help speed up certain elements, but it won’t necessarily make your video or livestream accessible. This is because many third-party domains like Vimeo and YouTube are slow or inaccessible in China. CDNs do not handle these third-party resources, they simply cache them closer to the end user.

Chinafy identifies and handles the inaccessible or slow-loading resources so they load consistently in China. For example, a YouTube embed would be seen as a non-branded video player in the Chinafy version of the site (but would remain a YouTube embed for global visitors).

Case studies: making global live streams accessible from China

University of Pennsylvania

When the University of Pennsylvania held its virtual commencement, it wanted to ensure that families and alumni in China could watch in real time. By working with Chinafy, the university successfully streamed its Vimeo Live event to audiences both inside and outside China without rebuilding or changing platforms.

Read the full case study here

Transitions Optical

Transitions Optical ran a global live event hosted on Vimeo Live. Using Chinafy, they ensured the live stream was accessible to all attendees globally, including those in mainland China. The result was a smooth, high-quality viewing experience and consistent engagement across regions.

Read the full case study here

How to get started with Chinafy

Chinafy’s live streaming process is designed to be straightforward:

You continue to use your existing streaming setup (e.g., Vimeo Live, YouTube, or a private player).

Once configuration is complete, traffic is automatically routed to the appropriate version depending on where your viewers are located. You can learn more about the process here.

Get in touch with us for a consultation.