The Best Chinese AI Search Tools - A Codedesign Perspective

China’s AI search ecosystem continues to expand at a remarkable pace. At Codedesign, we’ve spent the last few months partnering with businesses and content creators to try to understand AI-driven platforms that shape user experiences and business outcomes. From semantic searches to knowledge-graph integrations, these seven tools represent the forefront of China’s AI search innovations. In this article, we’ll explore each platform’s standout features, share key insights from our client engagements, and highlight why these tools are driving the next wave of digital transformation

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DeepSeek

What It Is

DeepSeek is an emerging AI search engine that excels in semantic processing and robust knowledge-graph capabilities. By interpreting user intent and contextualizing data, DeepSeek aims to provide in-depth, precise results for everything from casual queries to high-level research.

Why It Stands Out

• Semantic Search Mastery
  • Goes beyond keyword matching, using deep learning to interpret the meaning behind search terms.
  • Perfect for technical or specialized research where contextual accuracy is crucial.
• Knowledge-Graph Integration
  • Links data points across news, social media, and academic journals to deliver multifaceted insights.
  • Helps businesses identify emerging trends by analyzing relationships between data sets.
• Adaptive User Profiles
  • Builds personalized user profiles that tailor results based on browsing habits and preferences.
  • Allows businesses to customize how they deliver content to different audience segments.

Codedesign Insights

• E-commerce Integration: Several Codedesign internal projects integrated DeepSeek’s AI-powered APIs to improve product discoverability and saw higher conversion rates.
• Educational Focus: Research institutions and universities benefited from more accurate, context-rich search results, significantly cutting down on time spent filtering irrelevant material.
• Scalability: DeepSeek’s modular architecture makes it flexible for startups and enterprise-level clients alike.

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ERNIE (Baidu)

What It Is

ERNIE (Enhanced Representation through kNowledge IntEgration) is Baidu’s advanced language model that powers Baidu AI Search, one of China’s most widely used search engines. It seamlessly combines deep linguistic understanding with massive data sets to deliver precise and context-aware results.

Why It Stands Out

• Comprehensive Search Experience
  • From everyday queries to academic research, ERNIE’s robust AI covers a full spectrum of user needs.
  • Provides concise, AI-generated summaries to help users quickly grasp complex topics.
• Chinese Language Expertise
  • Specialized in the nuances of Mandarin, enabling more accurate interpretation of colloquialisms and regional dialects.
  • Ideal for businesses targeting a broad Chinese audience with diverse language preferences.
• Data-Driven Insights
  • Baidu’s extensive ecosystem (including forums, maps, and news) feeds into ERNIE’s knowledge graph, creating data-rich search results.
  • Offers valuable market intelligence for brands looking to track consumer behavior in real time.

Codedesign Insights

• Organic Visibility: Pages who optimized their content for ERNIE noticed significant improvements in search rankings on Baidu.
• Content Strategy: We’ve guided clients to structure long-form articles and product descriptions in a way that aligns with ERNIE’s semantic parsing, resulting in higher user engagement.
• Digital Marketing Integration: ERNIE’s integration with Baidu’s advertising platform allows for holistic campaigns combining organic and paid strategies.

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Sogou

What It Is

Sogou is a veteran in the Chinese search market, known for its advanced natural language processing and tight integration with social platforms. It offers both a standard search portal and an AI-driven, conversational interface that interprets queries with human-like understanding.

Why It Stands Out

• Social Media Integration
  • Aggregates trending data from WeChat and other popular Chinese platforms, making it indispensable for real-time market insights.
  • Particularly useful for brands tracking influencer campaigns or viral topics.
• Conversational Query Handling
  • Offers “smart” summaries that simplify complex topics into user-friendly bite-sized answers.
  • Ideal for users who prefer a more interactive, Q&A-driven search experience.
• Wide Content Coverage
  • Indexes news, multimedia, and user-generated content for comprehensive search results.
  • Helps content creators and businesses tap into multiple online communities.

Codedesign Insights

• Trend Spotting: Brands we’ve worked with leverage Sogou to pinpoint emerging social discussions, informing product development and marketing strategies.
• Localized Campaigns: Codedesign’s clients in regional markets have used Sogou’s analytics to refine localized promotions, boosting click-through rates.
• Enhanced Engagement: By optimizing content for Sogou’s natural language interface, clients see higher dwell times and user satisfaction.

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Shenma

What It Is

Shenma AI Search is known primarily for its mobile-first approach. It was born from a collaboration between Alibaba’s UCWeb and Qihoo 360 but has grown into a standalone platform optimized for on-the-go information discovery.

Why It Stands Out

• Mobile Optimization
  • Fast loading times and touch-friendly results cater to China’s massive mobile user base.
  • Minimal ads keep the interface clean and user-focused.
• Local Relevance
  • Capable of delivering hyper-local results and location-based services that help users find nearby products or services.
  • Especially useful for SMEs targeting regional or city-specific consumers.
• Streamlined User Experience
  • Balances AI-driven insights with a straightforward interface, making it easy for mobile users to find precise information.
  • Emphasizes relevancy over volume to accommodate smaller mobile screens.

 Codedesign Insights

• On-the-Go Commerce: E-commerce brands we support have seen Shenma effectively drive foot traffic to physical stores and pop-up events through location-aware queries.
• Rapid Adoptions: Clients targeting younger, mobile-centric demographics found success integrating with Shenma’s AI for instant product recommendations.
• Conversion Upswing: Streamlined search journeys translate into quicker purchase decisions, which boosts mobile conversion rates.

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Youdao

What It Is

Youdao, part of the NetEase family, is a powerhouse for educational and research-focused queries. Its AI-driven platform combines a rich knowledge base with machine learning to deliver precise, context-rich search results.

Why It Stands Out

• Academic & Professional Relevance
  • Specializes in academic papers, technical documents, and learning resources.
  • Ideal for students, educators, and professionals needing in-depth research on specialized topics.
• Clean, User-Centric Interface
  • Minimal distractions, so users can quickly drill down to the core information.
  • Intuitive design that resonates with those in fast-paced research environments.
• Knowledge & Language Tools
  • Integrates with Youdao’s dictionary and translation services, adding bilingual functionality that supports global collaboration.
  • Helpful for cross-border research or English-Chinese content creation.

Codedesign Insights

• Rapid Research Cycles: Universities and think tanks we work with use Youdao to centralize and streamline their research processes.
• Enhanced Learning Portals: Educational websites see better user engagement through Youdao’s curated lists of academic sources.
• Professional Development: Corporate training programs benefit from Youdao’s specialized results, linking employees to relevant white papers and case studies.

Alibaba’s Aliyun AI Search

What It Is

Developed by Alibaba Cloud, Aliyun AI Search brings enterprise-level scalability and advanced AI features to organizations managing vast volumes of data—particularly in e-commerce and global business contexts.

Why It Stands Out

• Enterprise-Ready Architecture
  • Handles large-scale data indexing, making it well-suited for massive product catalogs.
  • Offers robust security protocols that appeal to enterprise clients handling sensitive information.
• Real-Time Insights
  • Integrates seamlessly with Alibaba Cloud’s broader suite of analytics, allowing brands to analyze user behavior in real time.
  • Provides dynamic search results that update as inventory or product details change.
• Customizable AI Models
  • Businesses can tailor AI algorithms to reflect specific branding or operational requirements.
  • Helps differentiate product offerings and highlight specialized services.

Codedesign Insights

• Global E-commerce Expansion: Clients we’ve guided into cross-border e-commerce leverage Aliyun AI to manage multi-language product listings efficiently.
• Scalable Deployments: Startups and established enterprises benefit from Aliyun AI’s flexible deployment options (public cloud, hybrid, private).
• Advanced Analytics: Detailed search analytics offer insights into user patterns, helping refine content strategies and inventory planning.

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Tencent AI Search

What It Is

Tencent AI Search connects users to Tencent’s vast digital ecosystem, including WeChat, QQ, and other social platforms. It uses natural language processing and machine learning to deliver fluid, conversational search results.

Why It Stands Out

• Ecosystem Integration
  • Leverages real-time data from Tencent’s extensive platform network, offering social-media-driven insights and faster content discovery.
  • Users can find products, services, and trending topics without leaving the app ecosystem.
• Adaptive Recommendations
  • Monitors user behavior, adjusting recommendations in real time to reflect trending conversations or personal interests.
  • Beneficial for brands looking to stay ahead of viral topics and immediate audience needs.
• Language & Community
  • Supports multiple Chinese dialects and fosters interactive discussions around hot topics, bridging the gap between social and search.
  • Especially handy for influencer marketing, as brands can track how content spreads across different circles.

 Codedesign Insights

• High Engagement Rates: Clients embedding Tencent AI Search into their mini-programs see improved user retention and cross-platform sharing.
• Influencer Collaborations: Marketers can pinpoint and align with trending influencers, optimizing brand visibility in real time.
• Holistic Campaigns: By integrating Tencent’s search with WeChat official accounts and ad tools, clients orchestrate cohesive, multi-channel strategies that amplify reach.
  
  

The new Updates /  New Wave of China AI

Kimi (Moonshot AI)

What It Is Kimi, developed by Moonshot AI, has quickly become a favorite among researchers and professionals. It is best known for its massive context window—capable of processing up to 2 million tokens (roughly 2 million Chinese characters) in a single prompt. Why It Stands Out

• Long-Context Mastery: Unlike standard chatbots, Kimi can read and summarize entire books, legal contracts, or complex technical papers in seconds without losing track of details.

• "Lossless" Memory: It excels at retrieving specific facts from massive datasets uploaded by the user, making it a powerful tool for data analysis. 

• Use Case: Ideal for analyzing long-form competitor reports or synthesizing yearly financial statements. We've seen it used to digest 50-page SEO technical audits into actionable checklists instantly.

Doubao (ByteDance)

What It Is Doubao is ByteDance’s (the parent company of TikTok) flagship AI mobile assistant. It surpassed rivals to become one of China's most active AI apps in 2025. It is designed as a "super agent" that lives on your phone. Why It Stands Out

• Mobile-First Design: Optimized for voice interaction and quick answers, similar to a super-powered Siri.

• Content Ecosystem: It has unique access to real-time trends from Douyin (Chinese TikTok), making it incredibly culturally relevant.

• Multi-Agent Capability: It can deploy specialized "agents" for travel planning, language learning, or role-playing. 

• Use Case: Perfect for marketers needing to understand current Chinese Gen-Z slang or trending topics on Douyin for content localization.

Hailuo AI (MiniMax)

What It Is Also known as "Glow" in some iterations, Hailuo AI by MiniMax is a dual-threat platform offering both a high-IQ text assistant and a state-of-the-art video generation model (Hailuo-02). Why It Stands Out

• Video Search & Generation: It is currently one of the few platforms where you can search for a concept and generate a cinematic-quality video clip to visualize it.

• Creative Focus: The text model is fine-tuned for creative writing and role-play, making it less "robotic" than some competitors. 

• Use Case: Creative teams use Hailuo to storyboard video ads or generate quick visual concepts for client pitches without needing a full production crew.

Zhipu Qingyan (Zhipu AI)

What It Is Built on the GLM (General Language Model) architecture by Zhipu AI (a Tsinghua University spin-off), this tool is the "academic heavyweight" of the group. It is deeply integrated with data analysis and coding tools. Why It Stands Out

• Data Analysis: It has a built-in "Code Interpreter" similar to ChatGPT, allowing it to generate charts, graphs, and execute Python code for complex math.

• Open Source Roots: Because the underlying models are open-source, it has a massive developer community improving its reasoning capabilities daily. 

• Use Case: Technical SEOs and data analysts use Zhipu to clean large datasets or generate Python scripts for scraping public web data.

360 AI Search (Qihoo 360)

What It Is From the cybersecurity giant Qihoo 360, this is a dedicated "Answer Engine" rather than a chat bot. It focuses on reading multiple web sources and synthesizing a single, cited answer. Why It Stands Out

• Source Reliability: Every sentence in its answer is footnoted with a link to the original source, addressing the "hallucination" problem common in AI.

• Security Focus: Given 360’s background, it filters out malicious domains and focuses on trusted verified sources. 

• Use Case: Excellent for fact-checking and reputation management. Brands use it to see what authoritative sources are saying about them, filtering out low-quality noise.

Tiangong AI Search (Kunlun Tech)

What It Is Tiangong is one of the first platforms in China explicitly branded as an "AI Search Engine" rather than a chatbot. It aims to replace traditional keyword search entirely. Why It Stands Out

• Deep Search: It doesn't just read the top 3 results; it scans deeply into forums, PDFs, and academic papers to find niche information.

• Multimedia Results: It often aggregates audio and video results alongside text, providing a richer answer format. 

• Use Case: Great for deep market research where you need to find obscure industry regulations or niche consumer discussions that standard search engines miss.

iFlytek Spark (Spark Desk)

What It Is iFlytek is China's leader in voice recognition, and Spark Desk brings that expertise to AI search. It is the go-to tool for voice-interaction and cross-language communication. Why It Stands Out

• Voice Interaction: It has arguably the best Chinese voice recognition and synthesis, allowing for seamless verbal search and dictation.

• Document Q&A: It allows users to upload "knowledge bases" (like company manuals) and search them via voice or text. 

• Use Case: Essential for international teams. You can upload a Chinese meeting recording, and Spark Desk will transcribe, summarize, and translate the key points into English instantly.

SenseChat (SenseTime)

What It Is Powered by the SenseNova model, SenseChat excels in "Vision" capabilities. SenseTime is a computer vision company, so their search tool "sees" as well as it reads. Why It Stands Out

• Visual Input: You can upload photos of products, landmarks, or charts, and it can search based on the visual information.

• Cantonese Support: It has superior support for Cantonese and Hong Kong-specific context compared to many Beijing-based models. 

• Use Case: Retail clients use it to snap photos of competitor shelf displays to analyze product placement strategies. It is also the preferred tool for our partners in the Greater Bay Area.

Tencent Yuanbao

What It Is While the original article mentions "Tencent AI Search," Yuanbao is the specific flagship app launched to conquer the consumer market. It is built on the powerful Hunyuan model. Why It Stands Out

• WeChat Official Account Access: Uniquely, Yuanbao can search the closed ecosystem of WeChat Official Account articles, which are often invisible to outside search engines like Baidu or Google.

• Ecosystem Integration: It connects seamlessly with QQ Music and Tencent Video for multimedia searches. 

• Use Case: This is the only tool for deep research into WeChat content. If you want to know what competitors are publishing to their private followers on WeChat, Yuanbao is the key.

Metaso

What It Is Metaso is an "AI Search Aggregator" designed for serious productivity. It frames itself as a tool for students and researchers to cut through the noise of the internet. Why It Stands Out

• Structured Output: It presents answers in a clean, structured format (like a mind map or academic outline) rather than just a block of text.

• Ad-Free Experience: It focuses purely on information retrieval without the clutter of ads that plagues traditional Chinese search engines. 

• Use Case: We use Metaso for initial topic research. Its ability to structure a messy topic into a clear outline helps content teams draft blog structures in minutes.

Resume

Tool Name	Developer	Primary Type	Best Use Case (Codedesign Perspective)	Key Differentiator
1. Kimi	Moonshot AI	Research Assistant	Long-form Analysis: Digesting 50+ page reports, books, or legal contracts in seconds.	2M Token Context Window: Can "read" more text at once than almost any other model.
2. Doubao	ByteDance (TikTok)	Super Agent	Trend Tracking: Marketers needing real-time insights into Chinese Gen-Z trends & slang.	Douyin Ecosystem: Direct access to TikTok/Douyin content trends.
3. Hailuo AI	MiniMax	Creative Suite	Creative Production: Storyboarding video ads and creative writing/roleplay.	Text-to-Video: One of the few offering high-quality video generation inside the chat.
4. DeepSeek	DeepSeek	Coding/Reasoning	Technical SEO & Dev: Writing scripts, debugging code, and complex logic puzzles.	Price/Performance: Rivals GPT-4 in coding tasks but is open-source and extremely efficient.
5. Zhipu Qingyan	Zhipu AI	Data Analyst	Data Science: Cleaning datasets, generating Python charts, and academic research.	Code Interpreter: Built-in ability to run code for math and data visualization.
6. Metaso	Metaso	Search Aggregator	Productivity: Creating instant mind maps and structured outlines for content.	Structured Output: Answers come as "knowledge maps" rather than just text blocks.
7. Yuanbao	Tencent	Ecosystem Search	WeChat Research: Finding content inside the "walled garden" of WeChat Official Accounts.	Deep Integration: The only tool with full access to the closed WeChat content ecosystem.
8. SenseChat	SenseTime	Vision Agent	Visual Search: Retail analysis via photos (e.g., analyzing shelf displays).	Visual "IQ": Superior at understanding images and Cantonese language support.
9. Tiangong	Kunlun Tech	Search Engine	Deep Market Research: Finding obscure PDFs, forums, and niche industry regulations.	Deep Search: Scans deeper into non-mainstream web sources than standard engines.
10. Spark Desk	iFlytek	Voice/Language	Meeting assistant: Transcribing and summarizing Chinese meetings or voice notes.	Voice Tech: Industry-leading voice recognition and real-time translation.
THE GIANTS (Updates)
Baidu Ernie	Baidu	General Search	SEO & Traffic: Optimizing content for China's largest search engine (Baidu).	Market Share: Integrated into the main Baidu search, giving it massive reach.
Tongyi Qianwen	Alibaba	Enterprise	E-commerce: Writing product descriptions and handling customer service queries.	Qwen Model: Highly integrated with Alibaba's massive e-commerce database.
Sogou AI	Tencent/Sogou	Social Search	Social Listening: Searching across social platforms (older tech, now largely integrated).	Social Indexing: historically strong at indexing WeChat and Zhihu (Q&A) content.
360 AI Search	Qihoo 360	Secure Search	Reputation Management: Fact-checking brand mentions on trusted domains.	Source Verification: Footnotes every sentence and filters out unsafe/spam domains.

What we've learned as Codedesign Digital AI Team

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