China's leading web search company has launched an online, user-generated encyclopedia modelled on Wikipedia, the hugely popular co-operative reference website that is blocked by Beijing censors.

Unlike the encyclopedia developed by donation-funded Wikipedia, "Baidupedia" - the new service from Nasdaq-listed Baidu.com - is heavily censored to avoid offending the Chinese government. Baidu has barred users from including any "malicious evaluation of the current national system", any "attack on government institutions" or even "promotion of a dispirited or negative view of life".