ChinaNet Online Holdings to Promote Entrepreneurship in Shandong

BEIJING, Dec. 18, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ChinaNet Online Holdings, Inc. (Nasdaq:CNET) (the "ChinaNet" or "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 its subsidiary Liansuo.com is partnering with Youth Business China (YBC) and Jinan Chain Store and Franchise Association to help young entrepreneurs in China launch their projects in Shandong Province.

Liansuo.com with YBC and Jinan China Store and Franchise Association will set up a platform for prospective entrepreneurs to access information regarding franchising, agency management, partnerships and networking. Any franchise business that would like to increase their presence in Shandong can be recommended or introduced through the platform. A panel of experts from ChinaNet and YBC experts ChinaNet will review each project and recommend a select number to the YBC to provide the chosen entrepreneurs with seed funding and mentoring services.

Youth Business China is a joint initiative formed by the Central Communist Youth League and the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce, and the former Ministry of Labor and Social Security to promote and support education among young entrepreneurs in China. As a public welfare program, YBC provides resources to young entrepreneurs, including mentoring and financial support.

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.

Safe Harbor

This release contains certain "forward-looking statements" relating to the business of ChinaNet Online Holdings, Inc., which can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "believes," "expects," "anticipates," "estimates" or similar expressions. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, including business uncertainties relating to government regulation of our industry, market demand, reliance on key personnel, future capital requirements, competition in general and other factors that may cause actual results to be materially different from those described herein as anticipated, believed, estimated or expected. Certain of these risks and uncertainties are or will be described in greater detail in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These forward-looking statements are based on ChinaNet's current expectations and beliefs concerning future developments and their potential effects on the Company. There can be no assurance that future developments affecting ChinaNet will be those anticipated by ChinaNet. These forward-looking statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties (some of which are beyond the control of the Company) or other assumptions that may cause actual results or performance to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. ChinaNet undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required under applicable securities laws.

CONTACT: MZ North America

         Ted Haberfield, President

         Tel:  +1-760-755-2716

         Email: thaberfield@mzgroup.us

         Web: www.mzgroup.us

News Provided by Acquire Media