If you are going to build a website in china ( host inside china mainland network ), two kind of licences you may need to apply before you start to run your site.

1- for non-profit from internet website, such as personal blog, company site, forum etc, you need to apply (or called check in with Gov monitor ) a licence to make sure your website under all Gov law. All in one word, no sensitive political topic, no horn things!!

2- for those websites which want to make money via internet, such as selling shared hosting, running IDC, providing information based on a member fee, you have to get permission first. There are many conditions, you need lots of money ( 1 million RMB ), employees, office, and have to prove you know how to operate online business ( lots of document work ).

China want more controls of internet, but it looks a impossible …  So get a local guys for more information if you want to host in china, that will be easy.