Microblogging in China in spreading the news quickly and discussing and evaluating government response. In 2012, there were 309 million people microblogging in China. "Wei boke" (微博客) and "weixing boke" (微型博客), commonly abbreviated as "weibo" (微博), are Chinese words for "microblog". A China-based microblogging service often names itself a weibo by putting it after the name of the service (e.g. Tencent Weibo, Sina Weibo). A similar word "围脖" () is used as Internet slang for "weibo". Fanfou () is the earliest notable weibo service. It was launched in Beijing on May 12, 2007 by the co-founder of Xiaonei (now Renren) Wang Xing ().
Han Jian (Weibo warlord) was then named Han Junxiong) was a long-time officer at Weibo Circuit, and seized control of the circuit when the soldiers mutinied in 870 against then-military governor ("Jiedushi") He Quanhao and killed He Quanhao due to He Quanhao's harsh discipline. Han Jian became deputy military governor after his father became military governor. After Han Yunzhong died in 874, the Weibo soldiers supported Han Jian to succeed him, and then-ruling Emperor Xizong agreed, making Han Jian acting military governor initially, and then full military governor in 875. He gave Han Jian the honorary chancellor designation of "Tong Zhongshu Menxia Pingzhangshi" (同中書門下平章事)