Best Contentful CMS Alternative For China
Tags: contentful, webdev, strapi, headlesscms
Published: 2021-02-12 05:04:26

![Contentful Official Website](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/i/wi770f9uvumly1t1irr0.png)

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canonical_url: https://www.21cloudbox.com/solutions/contentful-alternatives-in-china.html
---

# What is Contentful?
Contentful is a headless content management system (CMS). Headless CMS provides a way to create content that does not couple content to a specific output (such as web page rendering, such as writing articles on WordPress and posting them to a website). It provides a solution that content creators can more effectively write articles and and still allows developers to get content through APIs, which the content can then be delivered across channels.

# Can Contentful be used in China?

![Response from Contentful Team](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/i/u6br03rron9h1g8rhztk.png)

This can be interpreted as: The Contentful team has no "solution" in China for now.  For more information, please refer to the [original post](https://www.contentfulcommunity.com/t/compliance-with-china-hosting-requirement/1995).

In addition, Contentful does not have a CDN node in mainland China and isn't formalized under China's content control laws.  This means that it is **impossible** to use Contentful in a formal and smooth manner in China.


# Contentful's Open Source Alternative

![Strapi Official Website](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/i/3mrcv3m14zyijhsdz79i.png)

## What is Strapi?
Strapi is an open source headless content management system that was developed based on Javascript. It allows content creators to create content in a visual interface.  It also allows developers to retrieve content through APIs to achieve cross-channel delivery.

**21YunBox provides an alternative in China for Contentful.  21YunBox provides a one-click, operation and maintenance free Strapi Server solution for your needs**.

## How to Create a Strapi Server?
1. Register as [21YunBox member](https://www.21yunbox.com/u/signup/)
2. Create a [PostgreSQL database]({% post_url 2021-01-08-how-to-create-a-postgresql-database %})
3. Fork [Strapi Server](https://gitee.com/eryiyunbox-examples/hello-strapi-postgres) startup template
4. Create a **cloud service** on 21YunBox and allow 21YunBox to access your code base
5. Create with the following configuration

| Environment       | `Node 12.19`             |
| ----------------- | :-----------:            |
| **Build Command** | **`yarn && yarn build`** |
| **Start command** | **`yarn start`**         |


> For your choice of configuration, [Strapi official documentation suggests](https://strapi.io/documentation/v3.x/getting-started/deployment.html#recommended-requirements) Use at least 2GB For servers with memory and 1 core CPU, if you choose a machine with less memory for deployment, the deployment may fail.


Click **Advanced Configuration** to configure environment variables

| Environment Variable Key | Environment Variable Value                           |
| ------------------------ | :---------------------------------------------------:|
| NODE_ENV                 | `development`                                        |
| DATABASE_URL             | Click **Database URL** in the cloud database console |
| JWT_SECRET               | Randomly generate 32-bit characters                  |
| ADMIN_JWT_SECRET         | Randomly generate 32-bit characters                  |

> For the configuration of other environment variables, please refer to [Strapi official document](https://strapi.io/documentation/v3.x/concepts/configurations.html#configuration-using-environment-variables)

Randomly generate 32-bit characters method:
Paste the following command on the command line:

```bash
echo $(base64 /dev/urandom | head -c32)
```

After the Strapi Server is successfully deployed, you can go to `service name.21yunbox.com` for access. When the deployment is successful, you will see the following effects.

![Strapi Server Deployed Successfully](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/i/1hs6k2cdpmz4cd4hkusx.png)

### Other related blogs:
* [How to create Strapi Collection Types?](https://launch-in-china.21yunbox.com/solutions/how-to-deploy-strapi-project-in-production.html)
* [For medium and large projects, how to configure Strapi?](https://launch-in-china.21yunbox.com/solutions/how-to-deploy-strapi-project-in-production.html)
* [For small projects, how to configure Strapi?](https://launch-in-china.21yunbox.com/solutions/how-to-deploy-strapi-project-in-production.html)


# Why Choose 21YunBox?


> 21YunBox is a Cloud Service Platform based out of Beijing, China. We specialize in modern web hosting and automation solutions. This enables you to set up websites instantly.  

> **Have questions about hosting and deploying in China? Let us know, we are happy to help!** <21YunBox@gmail.com> 

To learn about the differences between 21YunBox and these foreign (outside of China) cloud service platforms, please refer to:

* [21YunBox vs Heroku](https://launch-in-china.21yunbox.com/solutions/how-to-speed-up-heroku-in-china.html)
* [21YunBox vs Netlify](https://launch-in-china.21yunbox.com/blog/solutions/alternatives-to-netlify-in-china.html)
* [21YunBox vs Vercel](https://launch-in-china.21yunbox.com/solutions/how-to-speed-up-vercel-in-china.html)
* [21YunBox vs Gatsby Cloud](https://launch-in-china.21yunbox.com/solutions/how-to-speed-up-gatsby-cloud-in-china.html)
* [21YunBox vs Github Pages](https://launch-in-china.21yunbox.com/solutions/how-to-speed-up-github-pages-in-china.html)
* [21YunBox vs Surge.sh](https://launch-in-china.21yunbox.com/solutions/how-to-speed-up-surgesh-in-china.html)
* [Compare in terms of function and price: 21YunBox vs Heroku, Netlify, Vercel](https://www.21yunbox.com/compare-others/)



<br>
*This article's content content originated [here](https://launch-in-china.21yunbox.com/solutions/contentful-alternatives-in-china.html.)*

*For additional detail and future modifications, refer the original post.*