We have a client who will be using Webflow for their site build. However, a significant portion of their traffic and customers will be based in China. I’ve read that loading speed can be a serious issue – does this still hold true in 2025?
If not, what’s the simplest way to test performance?
If it is still a concern, what are the potential solutions? I understand that using a Chinese CDN might help, but I have no prior experience with this.
Could someone provide advice or guidance on this topic?
Website loading issues in China are primarily caused by the Great Firewall, which restricts access to various foreign websites and resources. Here’s how you can optimize your site’s performance for Chinese audiences:
For immediate improvement:
Remove or replace third-party integrations like Google Fonts, Google Maps, and social media embeds (X, Facebook, YouTube)
Use locally hosted fonts instead of external font services
Minimize external dependencies and host assets locally
For a more comprehensive solution, you can export your site using Webflow’s code export feature and host it on a China-based CDN with locally-loaded assets.
To verify performance improvements, test your site through a proxy server or VPN that simulates Chinese locations, or collaborate with users in both China and North America to compare loading times.
Hopefully this helps! If you still need assistance, please reply here so somebody from the community can help.
Absolutely, loading speed, can still present challenges due to Great Firewall restrictions and slower access to international servers.
Optimize Your Site for Faster Loading:
Compress images and use WebP format.
Minify CSS and JavaScript to reduce file sizes.
Enable lazy loading for images that are below the fold.
Reduce the number of third-party scripts that may be blocked or slow to load in China.
If you want to save time on optimization and get the site running smoothly without a ton of manual work, I highly recommend trying Website Speedy—available on the Webflow Marketplace. It’s an app that automates performance optimizations like image compression, JS/CSS minification, and lazy loading, which will boost overall site speed.
You can start with a 14-day free trial, and the app will do much of the heavy lifting for you, including boosting speed for all users.
Hey Eugene — yeah, unfortunately the performance issues are still very real in 2025. Webflow sites (and really most Western platforms) tend to load painfully slow in mainland China due to the Great Firewall. Things like Google Fonts, reCAPTCHA, embedded players (like Vimeo), and even some CDN assets often get blocked or throttled. That leads to sites either half-loading or taking 30+ seconds to show anything usable.
Quick way to test:
If you’re curious about how your site is doing right now, you can check it with this free tool: https://www.chinafirewalltest.co
It’ll give you real-time results from inside China—whether it loads, gets blocked, or just crawls.
What’s worked for us is using a China-friendly intellegent overlay solution like 21YunBox Optimizer. Instead of rebuilding or rehosting everything on Alibaba or Tencent (which can be a nightmare if you don’t have a China business entity), you just point your Webflow domain to them. It acts like a smart mirror inside China:
Rewrites blocked resources (like Google Fonts or embedded services)
Speeds up performance massively (we’ve seen 12–30x improvement)
Optional ICP filing help if full compliance is needed
No code changes required
Make changes to your Webflow site, and show instantly on the China optmized site
Might be worth a look if your client wants a smooth experience in China without a full rebuild. Hope that helps!
