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China has one of the fastest-growing online audio markets in the world. Shaping this booming market are Ximalaya and Lizhi, the largest audio platforms in the country. In May 2025, Ximalaya completely overtook other domestic rivals with more than ** million monthly active users, more than the same size of its closest competitors Lizhi and Qingting FM, combined. 

China’s online audio titan

Founded in 2012, Ximalaya‘s subscribers surged to ** million in less than two years. The Shanghai-based audio platform has completed ** funding rounds, with Tencent Holdings Ltd., Sony Music Entertainment and Goldman Sachs Group, Inc being its backers. With a rich audio content library from audiobooks to Peking Opera and news, Ximalaya has become the most well-known audio service provider in China. In a 2021 survey, over ** percent of students and mothers chose Ximalaya over other audio apps. Another survey also discovered that Ximalaya was one of the top-rated mobile apps among Chinese middle-aged and elderly users.

The rising ear economy

Ximalaya’s success reflects Chinese consumers’ pent-up demand for audio offerings. The multi-billion-dollar online audio market has huge growth potentials. Apart from rising users and daily time spent, the advancement of smart speakers and emerging segments like in-vehicle music are the main driving forces.