ChinaNet Online Holdings to Participate in China's Largest Franchise Exhibition

BEIJING, May 11, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ChinaNet Online Holdings, Inc. (Nasdaq:CNET) (the "Company"), a leading B2B (business to business) Internet technology company focusing on providing online-to-offline ("O2O") sales channel expansion services for small and medium-sized enterprises ("SMEs") and entrepreneurial management and networking services for entrepreneurs in the People's Republic of China, today announced that it will participate in the 14th Annual Beijing Franchise Expo to be held at the at the China National Convention Center, from May 11th to May 13th, 2012.

ChinaNet is proud to be the inaugural and only internet news broadcaster for this event and will also be cooperating with China National Radio (CNR), the largest radio station in China, to leverage exposure to its large audience base throughout China.

"We look forward to a successful show in Beijing," stated Mr. Handong Cheng, Chairman and CEO of ChinaNet. "China Franchise Expo is the biggest trade show for franchise owners and entrepreneurs in Asia, with thousands of companies and professionals expected to attend this year's show. With rising competition in China for credit, skilled workers and consumers, franchise owners need our advertising and marketing services more than ever. We were able to introduce our comprehensive set of services for SMEs to a wide range of franchises at this year's show."

More information can be found at the following link: http://www.chinafranchiseexpo.com

About ChinaNet Online Holdings, Inc.

The Company, a parent company of ChinaNet Online Media Group Ltd., incorporated in the BVI ("ChinaNet"), is a leading B2B (business to business) Internet technology company focusing on providing O2O (online to offline) sales channel expansion service for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and entrepreneurial management and networking service for entrepreneurs in China. The Company, through certain contractual arrangements with operating companies in the PRC, provides Internet advertising and other services for Chinese SMEs via its portal websites, 28.com, Liansuo.com and Chuangye.com, TV commercials and program production via China-Net TV, and in-house LCD advertising on banking kiosks targeting Chinese banking patrons. Website: http://www.chinanet-online.com.

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