[liuliu]

Based on the Internet Information Services Management Approach (http://www.cnnic.net.cn/html/Dir/2000/09/25/0652.htm), anyone who provide Internet information services in mainland China needs to beian (be careful about the word they use here. As long as you provide service to mainland China user, you have to). For non-commercial website, it is free. For commercial website, it is free for you to apply, but in practice, you have to hire an agency to get the licence.

For those who are not Chinese native speakers, I use Google translate to give you the keywords:

"Second, in the PRC engaged in Internet information service activities, must comply with these measures.

"The term Internet information services, refer to Internet users through the Internet to provide information services activities."