AWS China (2025): Speed, Compliance & Better Alternatives
A 2025 guide to Amazon Web Services in China—Beijing & Ningxia regions, account setup, ICP compliance, performance pitfalls, and how a 21YunBox overlay keeps global AWS builds fast and legal inside the Great Firewall.
Struggling with AWS China Performance? Get a Free Site Audit.
Our 21YunBox Optimizer overlays your current AWS stack to deliver sub-50 ms speeds and full ICP compliance—no migrations, no extra DevOps.
Book My AuditKeep building on AWS; we’ll handle China.
AWS China: What’s Different in 2025?
| Quick facts | Details |
|---|---|
| Regions | Beijing (cn-north-1) operated by Sinnet & Ningxia (cn-northwest-1) operated by NWCD |
| Separate account? | Yes. An AWS China account is mandatory; a global AWS account cannot access China regions |
| Must-have licenses | ICP Filing (all public sites) • PSB Filing (informational sites that collect no personal data) |
| Latency | Cross-border traffic averages 150–350 ms; packet loss/sporadic blocking common |
| Common fix | Keep your existing AWS build, add a 21YunBox Optimizer overlay to localize assets & handle compliance—no code rebuilds |
1 Why AWS Created Separate China Regions
Unlike standard global regions, AWS China operates under Chinese law. Services are physically segregated, billing is in RMB, and contracts are signed with local operators (Sinnet/NWCD) rather than Amazon US. This arrangement satisfies data-sovereignty rules but introduces extra paperwork, slower feature rollouts, and limited service parity.
2 Performance & Compliance Pitfalls
2.1 Speed
- Great Firewall latency – TLS handshakes and DNS lookups from China to non-Chinese IPs can add 200–500 ms.
- TCP resets – Cross-border API calls may drop unpredictably, hurting SPA/GraphQL apps.
- Content throttling – Large static assets (images, JS bundles, HLS video) often load under 1 Mbps without local caching.
2.2 Legal Requirements
| Requirement | When it applies | Typical paperwork |
|---|---|---|
| ICP Filing | Any publicly accessible domain | Local entity or trusted filing agent |
| PSB Filing | Informational sites collecting no user PII | Online PSB portal |
Skipping or misclassifying these steps risks domain blocking, license revocation, or server shutdowns.
3 Three Ways to Run AWS-Powered Workloads for China
| Option | Pros | Cons | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Global AWS only | Single build pipeline | High latency, firewall risk, non-compliant | Internal tools, staging |
| 2. Migrate to AWS China account | Native speeds, local IP | Separate account, fewer services, DevOps duplication | China-first products |
| 3. 21YunBox Optimizer overlay | Keep global AWS stack, < 50 ms TTFB in China, ICP/PSB handled for you | Small overlay fee | Existing global sites, limited China resources |
4 Implementation Checklist (2025)
- Domain strategy – Decide on a
.cnversus global TLD plus ICP filing. - Traffic split – Route China traffic to 21YunBox edge PoPs; keep the rest on CloudFront/global ALB.
- Data localization – Proxy or shard user data that must stay onshore.
- Monitoring – Use 21YunBox real-time uptime checks from 30+ mainland cities.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is AWS available in China?
Yes—through the Beijing and Ningxia regions operated by Sinnet and NWCD. A separate AWS China account is required.
Can I use my global AWS account?
No. You must sign up for a dedicated China account; credentials and endpoints are isolated.
Do I still need an ICP license if I host on AWS China?
Yes—ICP filing is mandatory for any public website, regardless of cloud provider.
Next Steps
Get a free China site audit See exactly where latency, DNS misconfigurations, or compliance gaps cost you traffic. Start the audit →
Need deeper guidance? Explore our related guides:
