China's internet population is massive, at 513 million people at the end of 2011, according to eMarketer. Though growth will taper to the single-digit range by 2013, and the internet won't reach a majority of the population until 2015, China still has the largest online audience in the world, and it's only getting bigger.

Internet users and penetration in China, 2011-2016:
- 2011: 513.0 million (38.4% of population), +14.0%
- 2012: 569.4 million (42.4%), +11.0%
- 2013: 620.7 million (46.0%), +9.0%
- 2014: 657.9 million (48.5%), +6.0%
- 2015: 684.2 million (50.3%), +4.0%
- 2016: 711.6 million (52.1%), +4.0%