Optimal Chinese Website Fonts?

Choosing the right font for a Chinese website is crucial. It impacts readability, user experience, and even SEO rankings. With numerous font options available, how do you select the best one?

Typography isn’t just about aesthetics—it directly affects user engagement. In China, where mobile internet use dominates, readability and compatibility across devices are top priorities. The right font enhances user experience and reduces bounce rates.

1. Best Fonts for Chinese Websites

While Western websites rely on fonts like Arial or Times New Roman, Chinese websites require a different approach. Key factors include stroke clarity, spacing, and mobile-friendliness.

System Fonts vs. Web Fonts

• System fonts (e.g., SimSun, Microsoft YaHei) ensure compatibility across devices but lack customization.
• Web fonts (e.g., Alibaba PuHuiTi, Source Han Sans) offer better aesthetics but may impact loading speed.

Most Commonly Used Fonts on Chinese Websites

Font Name	Style	Best For
Microsoft YaHei	Modern, Clean	General websites, UI
SimSun	Traditional	Government, Academic
FangSong	Serif-like	Newspapers, Books
Source Han Sans	Elegant, Versatile	Branding, Tech
Alibaba PuHuiTi	Friendly, Readable	E-commerce, Apps

Key Quote:

“Microsoft YaHei is the default font for most modern Chinese websites due to its readability and clean strokes.” – Web Designer, Baidu UX Team⚠️

2. How to Choose the Right Chinese Font?

Factors to Consider

• Readability: Simplified vs. Traditional script readability varies.
• Mobile-Friendliness: Fonts should scale well on small screens.
• Performance: Some fonts slow down page load times.
• Brand Identity: Serif vs. sans-serif impacts perception.

A/B testing different fonts can help optimize user experience. A study by Tencent showed that Alibaba PuHuiTi improved readability by 14% compared to Microsoft YaHei.

3. Serif vs. Sans-Serif: Which is Better for Chinese Text?

Serif fonts (e.g., FangSong, KaiTi) are traditional but can be harder to read on screens. Sans-serif fonts (e.g., Microsoft YaHei, Source Han Sans) are more modern and better suited for digital content.

Case Study: E-commerce Fonts

JD.com and Taobao switched from SimSun to Alibaba PuHuiTi, improving readability and reducing user fatigue.

4. Font Size and Spacing Considerations

Ideal Font Sizes for Different Screen Types

• Desktop: 14-16px
• Mobile: 12-14px
• Headlines: 18-24px

Line Spacing (行距)

• Recommended: 1.5x line height for readability
• Too tight: Hurts readability
• Too loose: Wastes screen space

Fonts for Chinese documents in Microsoft Word

Category	Recommended Fonts	Usage Notes

Standard & Professional Use

SimSun (宋体)

Default font for formal documents.

Microsoft YaHei (微软雅黑)

Modern sans-serif, good readability.

FangSong (仿宋)

Traditional, often used in government/legal docs.

KaiTi (楷体)

Classical and formal, suitable for traditional-style writing.

Business & Modern Documents

Microsoft JhengHei (微软正黑体)

Clean and professional for business documents.

PingFang SC (苹方 SC)

Modern sans-serif, good for digital use.

Print & Presentation

LiHei Pro (俪黑)

Stylish, works well for posters and brochures.

STXihei (华文细黑)

Elegant, suitable for headings in print materials.

Hiragino Sans GB (冬青黑体)

High-quality, ideal for print and design.

Readability for Long Texts

PingFang SC (苹方 SC)

Comfortable for digital screens.

Noto Sans CJK SC

Google’s high-quality font for multilingual docs.

Source Han Sans (思源黑体)

Clean and professional for mixed-language texts.

Formatting Tips

Body Text: SimSun, Microsoft YaHei, or Noto Sans CJK SC (10.5pt–12pt).

Justify alignment for professional documents.

Headings: PingFang SC, Microsoft YaHei, or STXihei (14pt–16pt, bold).

Use larger sizes for clear section breaks.

Spacing: 1.5x or 2x for better readability.

Improves document clarity.

5. How Do Fonts Affect SEO for Chinese Websites?

• Performance Matters: Heavy web fonts can slow down site speed, affecting rankings.
• Compatibility: Using widely supported fonts ensures text is indexed correctly.
• User Engagement: Better readability reduces bounce rate, indirectly boosting SEO.

READ MORE 5 Things You Should Know About Baidu: An Overview of Chinese SEO

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For general websites, Microsoft YaHei remains the safest choice. For branding and e-commerce, Alibaba PuHuiTi offers a stylish yet readable alternative. Testing fonts based on audience preference ensures optimal results.
Choose fonts that balance readability, aesthetics, and performance for a seamless user experience

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Language is more than just choosing the right font—it’s about clarity, precision, and making the right impression. Whether you need translations, document formatting, or full-scale content adaptation, we’re here to help. From legal documents to business reports and creative projects, we ensure everything is polished, professional, and perfectly tailored to your needs. Let us handle the details so you can focus on what truly matters!