China’s ‘giant online cafe’ Zhihu struggles to find monetisation model amid rapid growth


By Minghe HuJosh Ye
  • Internet
  • Wednesday, 10 Mar 2021

By the end of last year, Zhihu had more than 43.1 million cumulative content creators who contributed 315.3 million questions and answers. However, efforts to diversify its revenue streams through new functions, from live-streaming to content e-commerce, have not been very effective. — SCMP

“If Google is like a borderless virtual library, and Facebook is like a never-ending school reunion, then Zhihu is like a massive cafe where millions of people pass through and exchange their views and experiences.”

That was how Zhihu founder Zhou Yuan explained the Quora-like Chinese platform back in 2014.

Unlock 30% Savings on Ad-Free Access Now!

Monthly Plan

RM13.90/month
RM9.73 only

Billed as RM9.73 for the 1st month then RM13.90 thereafters.

Annual Plan

RM12.33/month
RM8.63/month

Billed as RM103.60 for the 1st year then RM148 thereafters.

1 month

Free Trial

For new subscribers only


Cancel anytime. No ads. Auto-renewal. Unlimited access to the web and app. Personalised features. Members rewards.

Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel for breaking news alerts and key updates!

Others Also Read


Want to listen to full audio?

Unlock unlimited access to enjoy personalise features on the TheStar.com.my

Already a member? Log In