Published by ChinaMNC · Meilisidawoerzu

Website Identity Labels in China: What the Heilongjiang Government Portal Filing Shows Foreign Founders

A practical look at how China's official website identity label system works, using the Heilongjiang Provincial Government portal's label filing as a concrete example for foreign founders operating company websites in China.

Why a Government Website Label Matters to Foreign Founders

When you register a company in China and launch a website, you will encounter a layer of compliance that many foreign founders underestimate: website identity labeling. The record published for the Heilongjiang Provincial Government portal offers a clear, real example of how this system is structured, what it measures, and what kind of ongoing obligations come with it. While a government portal is not a private company site, the record is useful because it exposes the vocabulary and mechanics that foreign founders will meet when dealing with their own site filings and evaluations.

Who Runs the Label System

The source record identifies the supervising authority as the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), and the issuing body as the Internet Society of China. This division of roles is worth noting. The ministry sets the framework, while an industry association handles issuance. For foreign founders, this means the label is not a purely internal government badge — it sits within a broader internet governance structure that also touches commercial websites.

The entity behind the example

The record lists the host organization as the Heilongjiang Provincial People's Government, classified as a party and government organ, with the site name matching the organization and the address at www.hlj.gov.cn. Each label carries an electronic identifier, in this case DZJG20260300003507PW. The takeaway for founders is that labeled sites are tied to a verified organization identity and a unique code, not just a domain name.

What the Evaluation Covers

The record splits assessment into two parallel tracks: the PC website and the WAP (mobile) website. Each track is scored across several dimensions, and understanding these dimensions helps founders anticipate what reviewers look for.

Accessibility for older users

Both tracks include a score for age-friendly design (适老化). On the PC site, the self-assessment is 100, the institutional assessment is 82, and the user assessment is 80. On the WAP site, the figures are 100, 83, and 83 respectively. The pattern is consistent: organizations tend to rate themselves highest, while external institutions and users score more conservatively.

Barrier-free access

A separate score covers accessibility for users with disabilities (无障碍). The PC site shows 100 self-assessed, 83 institutional, and 84 user. The WAP site shows 100, 80, and 83. For founders, these two categories — age-friendly and barrier-free — are not optional extras in the Chinese public-sector context; they are formal evaluation criteria.

Performance indices

Both the PC and WAP tracks report an effectiveness index (效能指数) with three components: comprehensiveness, reliability, and robustness. In this record, all three stand at 100% on both tracks.

Overall scores

The overall evaluation score is 85.8 for the PC website and 85.8 for the WAP website. The symmetry suggests the two versions were assessed as a matched pair rather than as separate products.

Label Validity and Certification Periods

The record states that both the PC and WAP website label certifications are valid for two years, running from 5 March 2026 to 4 March 2028. The certificate certification carries the same two-year validity and the same dates. A downloadable PDF of the age-friendly and barrier-free evaluation report for the Heilongjiang portal is also referenced.

For foreign founders, the two-year cycle is the practical planning point. Label status is not permanent; it must be renewed, and the certification dates should be tracked alongside other annual compliance deadlines such as licence renewals and tax filings.

Periodic Inspections

The record includes a regular inspection schedule with three dates: 4 September 2026, 4 March 2027, and 4 September 2027. The inspection result is listed as passed (通过). This is a useful signal: holding a label involves periodic checks during the validity window, not just a one-time application. Founders should expect that site content, accessibility features, and technical stability may be re-examined on a rolling basis.

Practical Implications for Foreign Founders

• Identity is verified, not self-declared. The label ties a website to a specific organization and a unique electronic identifier.
• Two platforms, two assessments. PC and mobile versions are evaluated separately, so a strong desktop site does not guarantee a strong mobile score.
• Accessibility is scored. Age-friendly and barrier-free design appear as formal criteria with self, institutional, and user ratings.
• Validity is time-limited. A two-year cycle with scheduled inspections means ongoing maintenance, not a one-off filing.
• Multiple evaluators. Self-assessment, institutional review, and user feedback are all recorded, and self-scores tend to run higher than external ones.

How to prepare

Before applying for or renewing any website-related certification in China, founders should confirm which entity holds the site, ensure the domain and organization details match official registration records, and budget time for accessibility improvements on both desktop and mobile versions. Keeping a calendar of validity dates and inspection windows avoids surprises.

What This Record Does Not Tell You

This is a public-sector portal record, so it does not describe the application process, fees, or requirements for private companies. It also does not state that private company sites must obtain this specific label. Founders should treat it as an illustration of how China's website identity and evaluation framework is documented, and confirm their own obligations with qualified local advisers.

This summary is based on information published by the relevant Chinese government website and is general information, not legal or tax advice.