Relax, Bing Users: Here Are Some Alternative CN Search Engines
What Has Happened?
While internet users in China are no strangers to being unable to reach certain websites, they've reached a new level of frustration with what appears to be the blocking of Bing.
As of yesterday, Jan 23, swathes of social media users complained about encountering the notorious error page frequently associated with China's Great Firewall while attempting to use the Microsoft-owned search engine. Their ire wasn't, however, due to Bing being an indispensable tool. Indeed, the search engine was merely considered a last resort by many users, after favorite, Google, famously pulled out of China in 2010. Options for accurate searches were further squeezed after the quiet removal of Yahoo (which is also powered by Bing) a few months back.
Bing then became one of the precious few alternatives to the ineffectual Baidu. That state-backed search engine is known for heavily filtering and frequently proving faulty for non-Mandarin searches (spokespeople for both Bing and Baidu did not respond before publication). Bing was favored for comparatively good search capabilities for overseas websites.
It's still uncertain as to why Bing is down, but for potential reasons, skip the following section.
Alternative Search Engines in China
By far, the easiest solution currently available to China's intrepid netizens is the use of www2.bing.com (hey, look, crisis averted!), though who knows how long that will work for.
There are also a number of alternative search engines which, despite being comparatively lesser-known, do the trick in a pinch:
2. so.com (Chinese)
3. english.sogou.com (Chinese)
4. naver.com (Korean)
5. qwant.com (French)
6. yandex.com (Russian)
7. searx.me
Why Has Bing Been Blocked?
The reasoning behind the Bing crackdown remains unknown. The AFP, which broke the story earlier today, reported that Bing parent company Microsoft was investigating the disruption. That article pointed out: "It was not clear whether or not Bing joined the long list of prohibited websites, or if its China service was experiencing technical difficulties."
It was not clear whether or not Bing joined the long list of prohibited websites, or if its China service was experiencing technical difficulties.
The Financial Times (FT), however, quoted anonymous sources who attributed the blocking to a government order. Chinese state media (xinhuanet.com) went on to announce a dragnet on seven million items of "harmful online information," a move that many to think Bing has fallen victim to.
FT tech correspondent Yuan Yang later Tweeted:
One Chinese user, who spoke on condition of anonymity, says being left solely with Baidu won't suffice because it's "a monopoly" with "too many ads." She says: "Many people hate Baidu, but we have no choice" because the alternatives listed above are still not mainstream.
Many people hate Baidu, but we have no choice.
What's more, she calls the apparent blocking of Bing a worrisome indication for the future of China's internet because: "Anything can be blocked. I don't know when it will end, and I feel very desperate."
Photos: the Beijinger, Twitter, tenor.co, aginto.com
Want to know what awesome events are happening in town? Scan/Extract the QR code above to get the list of our Editors' Picks.
Got something to sell? Looking for a job? Or an apartment? Then scan/extract the QR code above to visit our Classified Ads.
Do you have what it takes to be a True Runner?
Scan/Extract the QR code above to check out our current job openings.
Always something fresh
Scan/Extract the QR code above to follow us!
Tap on the cover to access the latest print issue