Are QQ email addresses real and what are the delivery challenges?
Michael Ko
Co-founder & CEO, Suped
Published 2 Jun 2025
Updated 18 Aug 2025
7 min read
Email marketers often encounter unexpected formats when managing their lists, and one common point of confusion arises with QQ email addresses. Many people wonder if email addresses composed solely of numbers followed by @qq.com are legitimate. The short answer is yes, they are real, and they represent a significant portion of the email landscape in China.
QQ Mail is an email service provided by Tencent QQ, a major Chinese technology conglomerate. While these numeric addresses might look unusual to those accustomed to alphanumeric formats common in Western email services, they are standard for QQ users. This widespread usage means that if you're engaging with an audience in China, you're very likely to encounter them.
However, their legitimacy doesn't automatically guarantee smooth email delivery. Sending emails to QQ addresses, and indeed to any email service provider within China, comes with its own set of unique and often challenging hurdles. These challenges range from technical infrastructure limitations to strict local regulations and anti-spam measures. Understanding these nuances is crucial for any sender aiming for successful inbox placement in the Chinese market.
Are QQ email addresses real?
QQ email addresses are indeed real and are one of the most popular email services in China. Their numeric format is a distinguishing feature, often comprising a string of numbers followed by @qq.com. This format is entirely legitimate for accounts registered on the QQ platform, which is integrated with Tencent's broader ecosystem of communication and social services.
While these addresses are real, it's worth noting that the ease of creating accounts can sometimes lead to an influx of disposable or less engaged users. This isn't unique to QQ, as many free email providers face similar challenges. From a deliverability standpoint, distinguishing between genuine, active QQ users and those who might have created accounts for one-off purposes can be difficult without robust data.
The key is to treat QQ addresses as you would any other email address on your list: verify them, monitor engagement, and apply proper list hygiene. While some numerical @qq.com accounts might be associated with spam or fraudulent activity, as seen in some reports, the vast majority are used by legitimate individuals. Therefore, purging them indiscriminately could mean losing contact with valuable recipients. It's important to understand how to identify and prevent fake or generated email addresses generally, not just for QQ.
Unique deliverability challenges for QQ.com
Sending emails to QQ.com and other Chinese ISPs presents distinct challenges that are often not encountered in other regions. The primary hurdle is the Great Firewall of China, which filters and blocks internet traffic, including email, based on various criteria. This can lead to significant delivery delays or outright blocking of messages, even for legitimate senders.
Chinese ISPs, including QQ, also impose strict sending policies and rate limits that are far more conservative than those in other countries. For instance, general send speed recommendations for Chinese ISPs can be as low as 4,000 emails per hour per IP. Exceeding these limits, even slightly, can quickly result in IP blocks or messages being marked as spam. This makes traditional IP warming strategies and high-volume sending challenging without careful calibration.
Furthermore, Chinese email platforms have highly sophisticated and often opaque anti-spam policies. They prioritize local senders and are quick to flag emails from foreign IPs or those with suspicious content, including certain links or keywords that might be acceptable elsewhere. These factors mean that even with perfect email authentication and a clean list, deliverability to QQ.com (and other Chinese ISPs) can be significantly impacted.
Common issues and error messages
When sending to QQ.com, senders frequently encounter specific error messages and behaviors that indicate deliverability problems. One of the most common is the 550 IP Frequency Limited error, which means your sending IP has exceeded QQ's secret, internal sending thresholds. This is a direct consequence of their strict rate limits and can lead to a temporary or prolonged block (or blocklist) of your sending IP. Knowing how to resolve QQ.com IP block issues is critical for continuous delivery.
Beyond explicit error messages, senders may also notice emails going straight to spam folders without any clear notification, or significant delays in delivery. Emails can take much longer to reach the inbox compared to Western providers, sometimes even days, before bouncing or being delivered. This can greatly impact the effectiveness of time-sensitive campaigns, like welcome series.
These issues highlight the need for persistent monitoring and adaptation when sending to Chinese recipients. Relying solely on standard deliverability practices might not be enough. Understanding these specific error types and the general behavior of Chinese ISPs is the first step toward building a more robust email strategy for this region.
Error Code
Description
Common Cause for QQ.com
550 IP Frequency Limited
Recipient's mail server rejected the email due to sender's IP exceeding rate limits.
Sending too many emails too quickly from a single IP address, triggering QQ's throttling.
550 Rejected by QQ.com
Email rejected due to sender reputation or content policy violations.
Poor sender reputation in China, suspicious content, or IP on a local blocklist (blacklist).
Delayed Delivery
Emails take an unusually long time to arrive in the inbox.
Filtering by the Great Firewall, or QQ intentionally slowing down delivery for new/unrecognized senders.
Improving email deliverability to QQ.com requires a multi-faceted approach that acknowledges the unique environment of Chinese email services. First, adhering to lower sending volumes and slower rates is paramount. Unlike Western ISPs, Chinese providers like QQ, 163 Mail, and Sina.com expect slower traffic, particularly from foreign IP addresses.
Content is also a major factor. Emails should be highly relevant and engaging to the Chinese audience, ideally in simplified Chinese. Avoid any content, links, or images that could be deemed sensitive or violate local regulations. This helps prevent content-based filtering or blacklisting. Also, ensure your email authentication records (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) are perfectly configured, as a strong sender reputation is always key, but especially so in China.
For long-term success, consider utilizing local sending infrastructure or partnering with a local email service provider that has established relationships and IP reputation within China. This can bypass many of the challenges associated with cross-border email delivery. Ultimately, understanding and respecting the unique regulatory and technical landscape in China is crucial for improving email delivery to QQ.com.
Global sending best practices
Authentication: Google and Microsoft require robust SPF, DKIM, and DMARC configurations for all senders.
List hygiene: Regularly clean lists to remove inactive users, bounces, and potential spam traps.
Content relevance: Send valuable, requested content to maintain high engagement rates.
Reputation: Maintain a positive sender reputation through low complaint rates and consistent sending.
QQ.com specific adjustments
Slower sending: Adhere to significantly lower sending speeds and smaller batches per IP.
Localized content: Translate emails to simplified Chinese and ensure content is culturally appropriate.
No banned keywords: Strictly avoid any politically sensitive or otherwise blocked terms.
Local infrastructure: Consider using Chinese-based sending infrastructure or partnering with local ESPs.
Navigating the Chinese email landscape
QQ email addresses are undeniably real and integral to the Chinese email ecosystem. While they function similarly to other email providers globally, the deliverability landscape within China, heavily influenced by the Great Firewall and strict local policies, presents unique challenges. Successful email marketing to QQ.com requires a strategic approach, including careful list management, content localization, adherence to slower sending rates, and a deep understanding of China's internet regulations. By implementing these specialized strategies, senders can significantly improve their chances of reaching the inbox and engaging effectively with their Chinese audience.
Views from the trenches
Best practices
Ensure your email content is translated into simplified Chinese and culturally appropriate.
Segment your QQ.com subscribers and send emails in smaller batches to avoid rate limits.
Actively monitor engagement from your QQ.com recipients and remove unengaged addresses.
Use a dedicated IP address for sending to China, if possible, and warm it up very slowly.
Common pitfalls
Sending emails at high volumes or speeds, which quickly triggers IP blocks (blacklists).
Using content or links that are sensitive or filtered by the Great Firewall.
Not regularly cleaning your QQ.com list, leading to high bounce rates or spam trap hits.
Ignoring local holidays or cultural events, which can impact email consumption patterns.
Expert tips
Consider using a local Chinese email service provider or partner for improved delivery.
Implement a double opt-in process for all QQ.com sign-ups to ensure genuine interest.
Test your email content and links thoroughly before sending to a large QQ.com audience.
Be aware that the definition of 'spam' can differ significantly for Chinese ISPs.
Expert view
Expert from Email Geeks says QQ email addresses are definitely real, but sending to them involves navigating the Great Firewall of China, which adds layers of complexity to delivery.
2021-09-15 - Email Geeks
Marketer view
Marketer from Email Geeks says they found that QQ.com imposes strict IP frequency limits, and exceeding them quickly results in emails being rejected with 550 errors.
Google and 
Microsoft require robust SPF, DKIM, and DMARC configurations for all senders.
