# Weibo Scraper - Chinese Social Intelligence (`zhorex/weibo-scraper`) Actor Extract posts, trending topics, comments, and creator profiles from Weibo (微博), China's largest microblogging platform. 580M+ users. No browser needed. Automatic auth via Sina Visitor System. Part of the Chinese Digital Intelligence Suite. - **URL**: https://apify.com/zhorex/weibo-scraper.md - **Developed by:** [Sami](https://apify.com/zhorex) (community) - **Categories:** Social media, Videos, Lead generation - **Stats:** 9 total users, 3 monthly users, 83.8% runs succeeded, NaN bookmarks - **User rating**: No ratings yet ## Pricing from $5.00 / 1,000 item scrapeds This Actor is paid per event. You are not charged for the Apify platform usage, but only a fixed price for specific events. Learn more: https://docs.apify.com/platform/actors/running/actors-in-store#pay-per-event ## What's an Apify Actor? Actors are a software tools running on the Apify platform, for all kinds of web data extraction and automation use cases. In Batch mode, an Actor accepts a well-defined JSON input, performs an action which can take anything from a few seconds to a few hours, and optionally produces a well-defined JSON output, datasets with results, or files in key-value store. In Standby mode, an Actor provides a web server which can be used as a website, API, or an MCP server. Actors are written with capital "A". ## How to integrate an Actor? If asked about integration, you help developers integrate Actors into their projects. You adapt to their stack and deliver integrations that are safe, well-documented, and production-ready. The best way to integrate Actors is as follows. In JavaScript/TypeScript projects, use official [JavaScript/TypeScript client](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js.md): ```bash npm install apify-client ``` In Python projects, use official [Python client library](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python.md): ```bash pip install apify-client ``` In shell scripts, use [Apify CLI](https://docs.apify.com/cli/docs.md): ````bash # MacOS / Linux curl -fsSL https://apify.com/install-cli.sh | bash # Windows irm https://apify.com/install-cli.ps1 | iex ```bash In AI frameworks, you might use the [Apify MCP server](https://docs.apify.com/platform/integrations/mcp.md). If your project is in a different language, use the [REST API](https://docs.apify.com/api/v2.md). For usage examples, see the [API](#api) section below. For more details, see Apify documentation as [Markdown index](https://docs.apify.com/llms.txt) and [Markdown full-text](https://docs.apify.com/llms-full.txt). # README ## Weibo Scraper - Chinese Social Intelligence Extract posts, profiles, trending topics, and comments from **Weibo (微博)** — China's Twitter with **580M+ monthly active users**. No API key needed, no browser needed, no VPN needed. The only quality Weibo scraper on Apify. ### How to scrape Weibo in 3 easy steps 1. **Go to the [Weibo Scraper](https://apify.com/zhorex/weibo-scraper) page** on Apify and click **"Try for free"** 2. **Configure your input** — choose a mode (`hot_search`, `post_comments`, `search`, or `user_posts`), enter your keywords or post IDs, and set the number of results 3. **Click "Run"**, wait for the scraper to finish, then **download your data** in JSON, CSV, or Excel format No coding required. No API key. Works with Apify's free plan. ### Part of the Chinese Digital Intelligence Suite Built by **Zhorex** — the only developer on Apify specializing in Chinese platforms: - **[RedNote (Xiaohongshu) Scraper](https://apify.com/zhorex/rednote-xiaohongshu-scraper)** — China's Instagram + Pinterest (social commerce) - **Weibo Scraper** — You are here (microblogging, public opinion) - **[Zhihu Scraper](https://apify.com/zhorex/zhihu-scraper)** — China's Quora (Q&A, expert opinions) - **[Bilibili Scraper](https://apify.com/zhorex/bilibili-scraper)** — China's YouTube (video, danmaku, creator analytics) Together, these cover the four pillars of Chinese social media intelligence. ### What is Weibo? **Weibo (微博)** is China's dominant microblogging platform — think Twitter meets Instagram. With **580M+ monthly active users**, it's where Chinese public opinion forms, brands communicate, and news breaks. Government officials, celebrities, and brands all maintain active Weibo accounts. ### Weibo API alternative There is no official public Weibo API available for international developers. Weibo's developer API requires a Chinese business license, has severe rate limits, and returns limited data. This Weibo Scraper is the best Weibo API alternative in 2026 — it extracts trending topics, posts, comments, and user profiles without any official API access. No Chinese business registration needed. ### Use Cases | Who | Why | |-----|-----| | **PR & Communications** | Track brand mentions in real-time on China's public square | | **Market Research** | Monitor what's trending among Chinese consumers | | **Influencer Marketing** | Find and evaluate KOLs by followers, engagement, verification | | **Competitive Intelligence** | Track Chinese competitor announcements and campaigns | | **Geopolitical Analysis** | Monitor public discourse on policy and international topics | | **Journalism** | Access Chinese public opinion data for reporting | | **Academic Research** | Study Chinese social media behavior and trends | ### Scrape Weibo with Python, JavaScript, or no code You can use the Weibo Scraper directly from the Apify Console (no code), or integrate it into your own scripts with Python or JavaScript. #### Python ```python from apify_client import ApifyClient client = ApifyClient("YOUR_API_TOKEN") run = client.actor("zhorex/weibo-scraper").call(run_input={ "mode": "hot_search", "maxResults": 50 }) for item in client.dataset(run["defaultDatasetId"]).iterate_items(): print(item) ```` #### JavaScript ```javascript import { ApifyClient } from 'apify-client'; const client = new ApifyClient({ token: 'YOUR_API_TOKEN' }); const run = await client.actor('zhorex/weibo-scraper').call({ mode: 'hot_search', maxResults: 50, }); const { items } = await client.dataset(run.defaultDatasetId).listItems(); items.forEach((item) => console.log(item)); ``` ### Features | Mode | What it does | Cookies needed? | |------|-------------|-----------------| | **Hot Search / Trending** | Real-time trending topics with heat scores and categories | No | | **Post Comments** | Comments + post detail with engagement metrics | No | | **Search Posts** | Find posts by keyword (with cookies) or hot timeline (without) | Optional | | **User Posts** | User profile + posts from specific accounts | For posts only | - **No browser needed** — Pure HTTP, runs in 256MB RAM - **No VPN needed** — Globally accessible endpoints - **Automatic session** — Visitor cookies obtained automatically - **Rate-limit handling** — Exponential backoff on 418/429 errors ### How to Use #### 1. Trending Topics (no cookies needed) Get the current Weibo hot search — the real-time pulse of Chinese internet. ```json { "mode": "hot_search", "maxResults": 50 } ``` #### 2. Post Comments (no cookies needed) Extract comments from specific posts. Provide post IDs (mid) or detail URLs. ```json { "mode": "post_comments", "postIds": ["5285773987283226"], "maxComments": 50 } ``` #### 3. Search Posts Search by keyword. Without cookies, returns hot timeline posts as a fallback. With cookies, searches the full index. ```json { "mode": "search", "searchQuery": "人工智能", "maxResults": 50, "cookieString": "SUB=your_sub_cookie_value" } ``` #### 4. User Posts Get profile info (always works) + posts (requires cookies). Provide numeric user IDs or profile URLs. ```json { "mode": "user_posts", "userIds": ["1642634100"], "maxResults": 50, "cookieString": "SUB=your_sub_cookie_value" } ``` ### How to Get Cookies (for Search & User Posts) 1. Open **weibo.com** in your browser and log in 2. Open DevTools (F12) → Application → Cookies → `weibo.com` 3. Copy the value of the **SUB** cookie 4. Paste it in the `cookieString` field as: `SUB=your_value_here` The cookie typically lasts several days before expiring. ### Output Examples #### Trending Topic ```json { "rank": 1, "title": "人工智能最新突破", "category": "科技", "hotValue": 2847562, "labelName": "热", "isHot": true, "url": "https://s.weibo.com/weibo?q=...", "scrapedAt": "2026-04-10T12:00:00Z" } ``` #### Post ```json { "postId": "5285773987283226", "text": "介绍一下我的老婆！@金莎", "createdAt": "Wed Apr 09 12:49:23 +0800 2026", "repostsCount": 493, "commentsCount": 4549, "attitudesCount": 97438, "authorName": "孙丞潇", "authorId": "7511222755", "authorFollowers": 0, "authorVerified": false, "images": ["https://wx1.sinaimg.cn/large/..."], "videoUrl": "", "isRepost": false, "postUrl": "https://weibo.com/7511222755/5285773987283226", "scrapedAt": "2026-04-10T12:00:00Z" } ``` #### Comment ```json { "commentId": "5285813927600208", "text": "恭喜恭喜！神仙眷侣，一定要狠狠幸福哦~", "createdAt": "Thu Apr 09 12:51:31 +0800 2026", "likeCount": 1268, "authorName": "吃瓜罗伯特", "authorId": "6108685154", "postId": "5285773987283226", "postUrl": "https://weibo.com/detail/5285773987283226", "scrapedAt": "2026-04-10T12:00:00Z" } ``` #### User Profile ```json { "userId": "1642634100", "screenName": "新浪科技", "description": "新浪科技是中国最有影响力的TMT产业资讯及数码产品服务平台", "followersCount": 23785876, "friendsCount": 3875, "statusesCount": 213546, "verified": true, "verifiedReason": "新浪网技术（中国）有限公司官方微博", "profileUrl": "https://weibo.com/u/1642634100", "scrapedAt": "2026-04-10T12:00:00Z" } ``` ### Content is in Chinese All content is returned in the **original Simplified Chinese**. Weibo is a Chinese-language platform — posts, comments, trending topics, and user bios are in Chinese. If you need English translations, pipe the output through a translation API (Google Translate, DeepL, or Claude). ### Technical Details - **Data source**: Weibo desktop AJAX API (`weibo.com/ajax/`) - **Authentication**: Automatic visitor cookies via Sina Visitor System - **No browser**: Pure HTTP requests with `httpx` — fast and lightweight - **Memory**: Runs in 256MB RAM - **Rate limits**: Built-in delays and automatic retry with exponential backoff - **Globally accessible**: No VPN or proxy required ### Pricing **$5 per 1,000 results** (pay-per-event) Each scraped item (post, comment, trending topic, or profile) counts as one result. ### Limitations - **Search** and **user posts** require login cookies (SUB) — see instructions above - **Hot search** and **post comments** work without any cookies - Only **public** data is accessible — private/locked accounts are not available - Weibo may rate-limit requests during peak hours — handled automatically with backoff - Very old posts may not be available ### FAQ #### Is there a Weibo API? There is no official public Weibo API available for international developers. Weibo's developer platform requires a Chinese business license and imposes strict rate limits. This Weibo Scraper is the best alternative — extract trending topics, posts, comments, and profiles without any official API access. #### How much does it cost to scrape Weibo? The Weibo Scraper costs $5 per 1,000 results (pay-per-event). Each scraped item (post, comment, trending topic, or profile) counts as one result. You can start with Apify's free plan, which includes $5 of monthly credits — enough for 1,000 data points. #### Can I scrape Weibo in Python? Yes. Install the Apify Python client (`pip install apify-client`), then use the `ApifyClient` to call the `zhorex/weibo-scraper` actor. See the Python code example above. #### Is scraping Weibo legal? This scraper only accesses publicly available data through Weibo's public web endpoints. It does not bypass authentication or access private/locked accounts. Always review your local laws and Weibo's terms of service before scraping. #### What is the best Weibo scraper in 2026? The [Weibo Scraper by Zhorex](https://apify.com/zhorex/weibo-scraper) is the only quality Weibo scraper on Apify in 2026. It supports 4 modes (hot search, post comments, search, and user posts), handles rate limits automatically, and runs without a browser or VPN. ### Integrations & data export The Weibo Scraper integrates with your existing workflow tools: - **Google Sheets** — Send scraped Weibo data directly to a spreadsheet - **Zapier / Make / n8n** — Automate workflows triggered by new Weibo data - **REST API** — Call the actor programmatically and retrieve results via Apify's REST API - **Webhooks** — Get notified when a scraping run finishes and process data in real time - **Data formats** — Download results in JSON, CSV, Excel, XML, or RSS ### More scrapers by Zhorex #### Chinese Digital Intelligence Suite - [RedNote (Xiaohongshu) Scraper](https://apify.com/zhorex/rednote-xiaohongshu-scraper) — China's Instagram + Pinterest (social commerce) - [Zhihu Scraper](https://apify.com/zhorex/zhihu-scraper) — China's Quora (Q\&A, expert opinions) - [Bilibili Scraper](https://apify.com/zhorex/bilibili-scraper) — China's YouTube (video, danmaku, creator analytics) #### Streaming - [Twitch Streamer & Channel Analytics](https://apify.com/zhorex/twitch-scraper) — Twitch profiles, live streams, clips, and VODs - [Kick.com Streamer & Channel Analytics](https://apify.com/zhorex/kick-scraper) — Kick.com profiles, live streams, clips, and categories #### B2B Reviews - [G2 Reviews Scraper](https://apify.com/zhorex/g2-reviews-scraper) — B2B software reviews and ratings #### Other Tools - [Perplexity AI Scraper](https://apify.com/zhorex/perplexity-scraper) — AI-powered search results - [Tech Stack Detector](https://apify.com/zhorex/tech-stack-detector) — Detect technologies used by websites - [Telegram Channel Scraper](https://apify.com/zhorex/telegram-channel-scraper) — Public Telegram channel messages - [Phone Number Validator](https://apify.com/zhorex/phone-number-validator) — Validate and format phone numbers - [Sneaker Price Tracker](https://apify.com/zhorex/sneaker-price-tracker) — Track sneaker prices across platforms ### Support Having issues? [Open a GitHub issue](https://github.com/zhorex) or contact via Apify. *** 💡 **Found this Actor useful?** Please [leave a star rating](https://apify.com/zhorex/weibo-scraper) — it helps other users discover this tool. # Actor input Schema ## `mode` (type: `string`): What to scrape from Weibo ## `searchQuery` (type: `string`): Search query in Chinese or English. Chinese keywords yield better results. Examples: 人工智能, 新能源汽车, iPhone ## `userIds` (type: `array`): Weibo user IDs (numeric) or mobile profile URLs. Example: 1234567890 or https://m.weibo.cn/u/1234567890 ## `postIds` (type: `array`): Weibo post IDs or detail URLs. Example: 5125463789012345 or https://m.weibo.cn/detail/5125463789012345 ## `maxResults` (type: `integer`): Maximum number of results to return (applies per user in user\_posts mode) ## `maxComments` (type: `integer`): Maximum comments to fetch per post (post\_comments mode) ## `cookieString` (type: `string`): Weibo login cookies for search and user\_posts modes. Open weibo.com in browser → DevTools → Application → Cookies → copy the SUB cookie value, or copy the full Cookie header. Not needed for hot\_search or post\_comments modes. ## Actor input object example ```json { "mode": "hot_search", "searchQuery": "人工智能", "maxResults": 50, "maxComments": 20 } ``` # API You can run this Actor programmatically using our API. Below are code examples in JavaScript, Python, and CLI, as well as the OpenAPI specification and MCP server setup. ## JavaScript example ```javascript import { ApifyClient } from 'apify-client'; // Initialize the ApifyClient with your Apify API token // Replace the '' with your token const client = new ApifyClient({ token: '', }); // Prepare Actor input const input = { "mode": "hot_search", "searchQuery": "人工智能", "maxResults": 50, "maxComments": 20 }; // Run the Actor and wait for it to finish const run = await client.actor("zhorex/weibo-scraper").call(input); // Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if any) console.log('Results from dataset'); console.log(`💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/${run.defaultDatasetId}`); const { items } = await client.dataset(run.defaultDatasetId).listItems(); items.forEach((item) => { console.dir(item); }); // 📚 Want to learn more 📖? Go to → https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js/docs ``` ## Python example ```python from apify_client import ApifyClient # Initialize the ApifyClient with your Apify API token # Replace '' with your token. client = ApifyClient("") # Prepare the Actor input run_input = { "mode": "hot_search", "searchQuery": "人工智能", "maxResults": 50, "maxComments": 20, } # Run the Actor and wait for it to finish run = client.actor("zhorex/weibo-scraper").call(run_input=run_input) # Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if there are any) print("💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/" + run["defaultDatasetId"]) for item in client.dataset(run["defaultDatasetId"]).iterate_items(): print(item) # 📚 Want to learn more 📖? Go to → https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs/quick-start ``` ## CLI example ```bash echo '{ "mode": "hot_search", "searchQuery": "人工智能", "maxResults": 50, "maxComments": 20 }' | apify call zhorex/weibo-scraper --silent --output-dataset ``` ## MCP server setup ```json { "mcpServers": { "apify": { "command": "npx", "args": [ "mcp-remote", "https://mcp.apify.com/?tools=zhorex/weibo-scraper", "--header", "Authorization: Bearer " ] } } } ``` ## OpenAPI specification ```json { "openapi": "3.0.1", "info": { "title": "Weibo Scraper - Chinese Social Intelligence", "description": "Extract posts, trending topics, comments, and creator profiles from Weibo (微博), China's largest microblogging platform. 580M+ users. No browser needed. Automatic auth via Sina Visitor System. Part of the Chinese Digital Intelligence Suite.", "version": "1.0", "x-build-id": "NuN0enCEGm5qlVqpa" }, "servers": [ { "url": "https://api.apify.com/v2" } ], "paths": { "/acts/zhorex~weibo-scraper/run-sync-get-dataset-items": { "post": { "operationId": "run-sync-get-dataset-items-zhorex-weibo-scraper", "x-openai-isConsequential": false, "summary": "Executes an Actor, waits for its completion, and returns Actor's dataset items in response.", "tags": [ "Run Actor" ], "requestBody": { "required": true, "content": { "application/json": { "schema": { "$ref": "#/components/schemas/inputSchema" } } } }, "parameters": [ { "name": "token", "in": "query", "required": true, "schema": { "type": "string" }, "description": "Enter your Apify token here" } ], "responses": { "200": { "description": "OK" } } } }, "/acts/zhorex~weibo-scraper/runs": { "post": { "operationId": "runs-sync-zhorex-weibo-scraper", "x-openai-isConsequential": false, "summary": "Executes an Actor and returns information about the initiated run in response.", "tags": [ "Run Actor" ], "requestBody": { "required": true, "content": { "application/json": { "schema": { "$ref": "#/components/schemas/inputSchema" } } } }, "parameters": [ { "name": "token", "in": "query", "required": true, "schema": { "type": "string" }, "description": "Enter your Apify token here" } ], "responses": { "200": { "description": "OK", "content": { "application/json": { "schema": { "$ref": "#/components/schemas/runsResponseSchema" } } } } } } }, "/acts/zhorex~weibo-scraper/run-sync": { "post": { "operationId": "run-sync-zhorex-weibo-scraper", "x-openai-isConsequential": false, "summary": "Executes an Actor, waits for completion, and returns the OUTPUT from Key-value store in response.", "tags": [ "Run Actor" ], "requestBody": { "required": true, "content": { "application/json": { "schema": { "$ref": "#/components/schemas/inputSchema" } } } }, "parameters": [ { "name": "token", "in": "query", "required": true, "schema": { "type": "string" }, "description": "Enter your Apify token here" } ], "responses": { "200": { "description": "OK" } } } } }, "components": { "schemas": { "inputSchema": { "type": "object", "required": [ "mode" ], "properties": { "mode": { "title": "Mode", "enum": [ "search", "user_posts", "hot_search", "post_comments" ], "type": "string", "description": "What to scrape from Weibo", "default": "hot_search" }, "searchQuery": { "title": "Search query", "type": "string", "description": "Search query in Chinese or English. Chinese keywords yield better results. Examples: 人工智能, 新能源汽车, iPhone" }, "userIds": { "title": "User IDs or profile URLs", "type": "array", "description": "Weibo user IDs (numeric) or mobile profile URLs. Example: 1234567890 or https://m.weibo.cn/u/1234567890", "items": { "type": "string" } }, "postIds": { "title": "Post IDs or URLs", "type": "array", "description": "Weibo post IDs or detail URLs. Example: 5125463789012345 or https://m.weibo.cn/detail/5125463789012345", "items": { "type": "string" } }, "maxResults": { "title": "Max results", "minimum": 1, "maximum": 500, "type": "integer", "description": "Maximum number of results to return (applies per user in user_posts mode)", "default": 50 }, "maxComments": { "title": "Max comments per post", "minimum": 1, "maximum": 200, "type": "integer", "description": "Maximum comments to fetch per post (post_comments mode)", "default": 20 }, "cookieString": { "title": "Cookie string (optional)", "type": "string", "description": "Weibo login cookies for search and user_posts modes. Open weibo.com in browser → DevTools → Application → Cookies → copy the SUB cookie value, or copy the full Cookie header. Not needed for hot_search or post_comments modes." } } }, "runsResponseSchema": { "type": "object", "properties": { "data": { "type": "object", "properties": { "id": { "type": "string" }, "actId": { "type": "string" }, "userId": { "type": "string" }, "startedAt": { "type": "string", "format": "date-time", "example": "2025-01-08T00:00:00.000Z" }, "finishedAt": { "type": "string", "format": "date-time", "example": "2025-01-08T00:00:00.000Z" }, "status": { "type": "string", "example": "READY" }, "meta": { "type": "object", "properties": { "origin": { "type": "string", "example": "API" }, "userAgent": { "type": "string" } } }, "stats": { "type": "object", "properties": { "inputBodyLen": { "type": "integer", "example": 2000 }, "rebootCount": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "restartCount": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "resurrectCount": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "computeUnits": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 } } }, "options": { "type": "object", "properties": { "build": { "type": "string", "example": "latest" }, "timeoutSecs": { "type": "integer", "example": 300 }, "memoryMbytes": { "type": "integer", "example": 1024 }, "diskMbytes": { "type": "integer", "example": 2048 } } }, "buildId": { "type": "string" }, "defaultKeyValueStoreId": { "type": "string" }, "defaultDatasetId": { "type": "string" }, "defaultRequestQueueId": { "type": "string" }, "buildNumber": { "type": "string", "example": "1.0.0" }, "containerUrl": { "type": "string" }, "usage": { "type": "object", "properties": { "ACTOR_COMPUTE_UNITS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATASET_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATASET_WRITES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_WRITES": { "type": "integer", "example": 1 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_LISTS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "REQUEST_QUEUE_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "REQUEST_QUEUE_WRITES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATA_TRANSFER_INTERNAL_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATA_TRANSFER_EXTERNAL_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "PROXY_RESIDENTIAL_TRANSFER_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "PROXY_SERPS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 } } }, "usageTotalUsd": { "type": "number", "example": 0.00005 }, "usageUsd": { "type": "object", "properties": { "ACTOR_COMPUTE_UNITS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATASET_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATASET_WRITES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_WRITES": { "type": "number", "example": 0.00005 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_LISTS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "REQUEST_QUEUE_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "REQUEST_QUEUE_WRITES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATA_TRANSFER_INTERNAL_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATA_TRANSFER_EXTERNAL_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "PROXY_RESIDENTIAL_TRANSFER_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "PROXY_SERPS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 } } } } } } } } } } ```