Xiaohongshu (RED) vs Douyin: How Creators and Brands Make Money in 2026
Quick answer: The choice between Xiaohongshu vs Douyin comes down to trust versus scale. Xiaohongshu (RED) monetizes through trust— brand-sponsored posts and curator-style…
Since 2013 · Chengdu · Dubai · Chicago
Targeted digital marketing, effective business development, and execution on the ground—so growth in China stops feeling like guesswork.
30 minutes · No cost · Straight answers about your China options
What we do
How we work
We listen and understand your goals, challenges, and China ambitions.
We build a market-informed action plan just for you.
From WeChat to dealmaking, we make it real.
So you stay informed, agile, and in control.
Why China Gravy
Trusted by 80+ organisations worldwide
“China Gravy has been an important and reliable partner for our university in the Chinese marketing space since 2015.”
“The service they provide has significantly contributed to our business growth within the region.”












Quick answer: The choice between Xiaohongshu vs Douyin comes down to trust versus scale. Xiaohongshu (RED) monetizes through trust— brand-sponsored posts and curator-style…
If you are an international company seeking to connect with Chinese clients and partners in service-based industries you may ask yourself how to get started – especially in the…
If you sell to Chinese consumers — or want to — live streaming is now the single most effective way to do it, and the most misunderstood. Around 833 million users(Source…
FAQs
You can start with a China Market Fit Assessment for $890, which tells you in two weeks whether China is worth pursuing. Ongoing work with us starts from $1,800 a month for Chinese digital marketing, or from $2,900 a month if we set it up and train your own team. Ad spend and influencer fees are separate and agreed upfront.
Most clients see first real responses from Chinese customers or partners within the first three months. A Live Market Test is built around exactly that window, with a monthly report so you can judge progress as it happens. Building a steady pipeline or brand presence usually takes six months or more.
No — you do not need a Chinese company to get started. Overseas businesses can open verified accounts on the main Chinese platforms, and we help you set them up. Whether a local entity makes sense later depends on how you plan to sell, and we will tell you when that point arrives.
Yes — that is what our in-house packages are for. We set up your channels or partner pipeline, train your team, and act as your eyes and ears for three months. After that you can carry it alone, or we stay on.
It depends on who you need to reach: WeChat for trust and B2B relationships, Xiaohongshu for research-led buyers such as students, families and travellers, and Douyin for reach and fast-moving consumer demand. Most of our clients use WeChat as the base and add one of the other two. The Market Fit Assessment includes a clear platform recommendation for your sector.
Yes — we work with clients wherever they are, and target Chinese audiences well beyond Beijing and Shanghai. Many opportunities sit in fast-growing cities such as Chengdu, where one of our offices is based. We choose target cities based on where your buyers actually are.
You get a clear verdict and a recommended next step, and the decision is yours. If China looks promising, most clients move to a Live Market Test or one of our in-house packages. If it does not, you have saved yourself a far larger investment.
Our team works from offices in Chengdu, Dubai and Chicago, with operations support in Tianjin. That gives you people on the ground in China and a team that works in your time zone. Meetings and visits in China can be arranged in person or virtually.
Whether you're entering or scaling, we streamline your China strategy—so you can grow faster and smarter.
30 minutes · No cost · No obligation · We reply within 1 business day