How to invest in China using ETFs

How do I invest in Chinese stocks?

The easiest way to invest in the whole Chinese stock market is to invest in a broad market index. This can be done at low cost by using ETFs.

On the Chinese stock market you'll find 12 indices which are tracked by ETFs. The speciality of China are the three categories of Chinese stocks: A-stocks, B-stocks and H-stocks.

Alternatively, you may invest in indices on Emerging Markets or Asia.

0.19% p.a. - 0.82% p.a.
annual total expense ratio (TER) of China ETFs
on the Chinese stock market, which are tracked by ETFs
on the Chinese stock market
 
The best indices for China ETFs

Performance of Chinese stocks (MSCI China)

1 month: 0.14%
1 year: 18.59%
3 years: 17.92%
5 years: -17.64%

Indices in comparison

The best indices for ETFs on China

For an investment in the Chinese stock market, there are 12 indices available which are tracked by 24 ETFs. The speciality of investing in China are the different categories of Chinese stocks. The total expense ratio (TER) of ETFs on these indices is between 0.19% p.a. and 0.82% p.a..

Index Investment focus Number of ETFs Number of constituents Short description

CSI 300

China 2 ETFs 300
The CSI 300 index tracks 300 stocks with the largest market capitalisation and liquidity from the entire universe of listed A share companies in the People’s Republic of China.
Index factsheet

CSI A 500

China 1 ETF
The CSI A 500 index tracks Chinese A-Shares.

CSI Overseas China Internet

China 3 ETFs
The CSI Overseas China Internet index tracks offshore listed Chinese companies whose main business is in internet-related sectors.
Index factsheet

FTSE China 30/18 Capped

China 1 ETF 1,248
(27/02/2026)
The FTSE China 30/18 Capped tracks Chinese companies with large and medium market capitalisation whose shares are listed on stock exchanges in China (A shares) or outside China (B shares, H shares, P chips, red chips, S chips, N shares). The largest company in the index is limited to a maximum of 30 percent of the index capitalization, all other index components to a maximum of 18 percent.
Index factsheet

FTSE China 50

China 1 ETF 50
The FTSE China 50 index tracks the 50 largest and most liquid Chinese companies listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (H-Shares, Red Chips und P Chips).
Index factsheet

MSCI China

China 5 ETFs 579
(31/03/2026)
The MSCI China index tracks the largest and most liquid Chinese stocks (A shares, H shares, B shares, Red chips, P chips).
Index factsheet

MSCI China A

China 3 ETFs 568
(31/03/2026)
The MSCI China A index tracks the largest and most liquid Chinese A-Shares, denominated in Renminbi ("RMB") and listed on the Shenzhen and/or Shanghai stock exchanges. This index reflects Mainland China A-share securities from a domestic investor’s perspective.
Index factsheet

MSCI China A Inclusion

China 4 ETFs 384
(27/02/2026)
The MSCI China A Inclusion index tracks China A-Shares also included in the MSCI Emerging Markets.
Index factsheet

MSCI China All Shares Stock Connect Select

China 1 ETF 559
(27/02/2026)
The MSCI China All Shares Stock Connect Select index tracks large and mid cap Chinese securities. The stock selection includes share classes listed in Shanghai or Shenzhen (A-Shares, B-Shares), Hongkong (H-Shares, Red-chips, P-chips) as well as foreign listings
Index factsheet

S&P China 500

China 1 ETF 500
The S&P China 500 index tracks the 500 largest and most liquid Chinese companies (all share classes including A-shares and offshore listings).
Index factsheet

S&P China A 300

China 1 ETF 300
The S&P China A 300 index tracks the 300 largest and most liquid Chinese A-Shares, denominated in Renminbi ("RMB") and listed on the Shenzhen and/or Shanghai stock exchanges.
Index factsheet

SSE Science and Technology Innovation Board 50

China 1 ETF 50
The SSE Science and Technology Innovation Board 50 index tracks the 50 largest stocks listed on the Chinese SSE Science and Technology Innovation Board.
Index factsheet
ETF
ISIN
  Fund size
in m GBP
TER
in %
Use of profits Fund domicile Replication method
iShares MSCI China A UCITS ETFIE00BQT3WG13 2,036 0.40% p.a. Accumulating Ireland Full replication
Xtrackers CSI 300 Swap UCITS ETF 1CLU0779800910 1,280 0.50% p.a. Accumulating Luxembourg Unfunded swap
Franklin FTSE China UCITS ETFIE00BHZRR147 1,238 0.19% p.a. Accumulating Ireland Full replication
Xtrackers MSCI China UCITS ETF 1CLU0514695690 911 0.65% p.a. Accumulating Luxembourg Full replication
HSBC MSCI China UCITS ETF USDIE00B44T3H88 808 0.28% p.a. Distributing Ireland Full replication
iShares China Large Cap UCITS ETFIE00B02KXK85 704 0.74% p.a. Distributing Ireland Full replication
Xtrackers MSCI China UCITS ETF 1DLU2456436083 702 0.28% p.a. Distributing Luxembourg Full replication
Amundi MSCI China UCITS ETF AccLU1841731745 503 0.29% p.a. Accumulating Luxembourg Unfunded swap
Amundi Core MSCI China A Swap UCITS ETF DistLU2572256746 448 0.25% p.a. Distributing Luxembourg Unfunded swap
KraneShares CSI China Internet UCITS ETF USDIE00BFXR7892 319 0.75% p.a. Accumulating Ireland Full replication
Xtrackers Harvest CSI 300 UCITS ETF 1DLU0875160326 233 0.65% p.a. Distributing Luxembourg Full replication
KraneShares CSI China Internet UCITS ETF EURIE00BFXR7900 121 0.75% p.a. Accumulating Ireland Full replication
UBS MSCI China A SF UCITS ETF USD accIE00BKFB6K94 110 0.24% p.a. Accumulating Ireland Swap-based
Amundi MSCI China A UCITS ETF AccFR0011720911 106 0.35% p.a. Accumulating France Full replication
Xtrackers MSCI China A UCITS ETF 1CLU0292109856 101 0.35% p.a. Accumulating Luxembourg Full replication
HSBC MSCI China UCITS ETF USD (Acc)IE0007P4PBU1 96 0.28% p.a. Accumulating Ireland Full replication
Invesco MSCI China All Shares Stock Connect UCITS ETF AccIE00BK80XL30 85 0.35% p.a. Accumulating Ireland Full replication
HSBC MSCI China A Inclusion UCITS ETFIE00BF4NQ904 66 0.30% p.a. Distributing Ireland Full replication
KraneShares ICBCCS China S&P 500 UCITS ETFIE0001QF56M0 52 0.55% p.a. Accumulating Ireland Full replication
KraneShares CSI China Internet UCITS ETF GBPIE00BMW13836 47 0.75% p.a. Accumulating Ireland Full replication
HSBC MSCI China A UCITS ETF USD (Acc)IE000Z4OYPZ6 28 0.30% p.a. Accumulating Ireland Full replication
Xtrackers Harvest CSI A500 UCITS ETF 1DLU1310477036 12 0.65% p.a. Distributing Luxembourg Full replication
Invesco S&P China A 300 Swap UCITS ETF AccIE000K9Z3SF5 11 0.35% p.a. Accumulating Ireland Unfunded swap
KraneShares ICBCUBS SSE STAR Market 50 Index UCITS ETF USDIE00BKPJY434 10 0.82% p.a. Accumulating Ireland Full replication
 
Index   1 month
in %
3 months
in %
6 months
in %
1 year
in %
3 years
in %
CSI Overseas China Internet -9.37% -17.31% -29.04% -17.01% -6.76%
FTSE China 50 -4.58% -7.09% -12.83% -1.38% 19.42%
MSCI China -6.13% -7.51% -14.61% 0.88% 10.85%
FTSE China 30/18 Capped -6.15% -6.39% -13.09% 3.63% 13.53%
MSCI China All Shares Stock Connect Select -5.95% -5.07% -9.24% 7.58% 9.05%
S&P China 500 -5.45% -2.34% -4.17% 15.35% -
CSI A 500 -6.51% 0.04% 1.53% 18.59% 16.17%
MSCI China A Inclusion -5.56% -0.70% 1.19% 20.40% 5.20%
CSI 300 -4.35% -0.14% 2.61% 23.68% 16.35%
MSCI China A -5.14% 0.55% 3.80% 25.85% 15.45%
SSE Science and Technology Innovation Board 50 -14.49% -2.21% -9.06% 26.43% -1.87%
S&P China A 300 -4.47% 0.82% 3.81% 27.86% 19.46%
Index   2026
in %
2025
in %
2024
in %
2023
in %
2022
in %
CSI Overseas China Internet -22.97% 15.20% 14.91% -14.71% -6.29%
SSE Science and Technology Innovation Board 50 -13.29% 31.88% 7.12% -22.58% -30.86%
MSCI China -8.13% 21.32% 20.49% -16.67% -12.88%
FTSE China 50 -7.57% 19.26% 32.95% -18.27% -10.35%
FTSE China 30/18 Capped -6.77% 22.32% 20.99% -16.68% -13.61%
MSCI China All Shares Stock Connect Select -5.15% 19.92% 17.60% -17.16% -14.61%
S&P China 500 -3.01% 22.38% 16.56% - -
MSCI China A Inclusion -0.93% 16.94% 13.31% -18.43% -17.33%
CSI 300 -0.41% 20.26% 17.84% -14.71% -15.46%
CSI A 500 0.24% 17.21% 19.55% -16.74% -11.91%
MSCI China A 0.43% 21.91% 15.66% - -
S&P China A 300 0.82% 23.29% 17.21% -15.33% -

Source: justETF.com; As of 31/03/2026; Calculations in GBP based on the largest ETF of the respective index.

 

Speciality

Chinese A-stocks (A-Shares): Stocks of Chinese companies that are listed on the Shanghai or Shenzhen stock exchange and traded in local currency.

This category has been exclusive to Chinese investors. However, professional foreign investors with a special license are able to invest in these stocks under certain restrictions.

Chinese B-stocks (B-Shares): Stocks of Chinese companies that are listed on the Shanghai or Shenzhen stock exchange and traded in foreign currency.

This category has been open for foreign investments. Since the restrictions on A-Shares have been lowered, these shares tend to be losing liquidity.

Hong Kong H-stocks (H-Shares): Stocks of Chinese companies that are listed on the Hong Kong stock exchange and traded in Hong Kong Dollar (HKD).

This category has been open for foreign investments as well. Most institutional investors prefer H-stocks due to their relatively high liquidity.

 
Alternative investment opportunities

Emerging markets indices with a large share of China

As alternative you can consider ETFs on emerging markets. Currently, you can invest in 3 emerging markets indices tracked by 23 ETFs. The total expense ratio (TER) of ETFs on emerging markets is between 0.11% p.a. and 0.74% p.a..

 
Index Investment focus Number of ETFs Number of constituents Short description
FTSE BIC 50 Emerging Markets
China: 58.09%
(27/02/2026)
1 ETF 50
The FTSE BIC 50 index tracks the 50 largest stocks of the BIC countries (Brazil, India, China).
Index factsheet
FTSE Emerging Emerging Markets
China: 30.09%
(27/02/2026)
3 ETFs 2,271
(27/02/2026)
The FTSE Emerging index tracks stocks from emerging markets worldwide.
Index factsheet
MSCI Emerging Markets Emerging Markets
China: 23.76%
(27/02/2026)
19 ETFs 1,204
(31/03/2026)
The MSCI Emerging Markets index tracks stocks from emerging markets worldwide.
Index factsheet
ETF
ISIN
  Fund size
in m GBP
TER
in %
Use of profits Fund domicile Replication method
Xtrackers MSCI Emerging Markets UCITS ETF 1CIE00BTJRMP35 8,849 0.18% p.a. Accumulating Ireland Optimized sampling
iShares MSCI EM UCITS ETF (Dist)IE00B0M63177 7,000 0.18% p.a. Distributing Ireland Full replication
iShares MSCI EM UCITS ETF (Acc)IE00B4L5YC18 6,464 0.18% p.a. Accumulating Ireland Full replication
Amundi Core MSCI Emerging Markets Swap UCITS ETF DistLU2573966905 3,950 0.14% p.a. Distributing Luxembourg Unfunded swap
Amundi Core MSCI Emerging Markets Swap UCITS ETF AccLU2573967036 3,759 0.14% p.a. Accumulating Luxembourg Unfunded swap
Amundi Core MSCI Emerging Markets UCITS ETF AccLU1437017350 3,285 0.18% p.a. Accumulating Luxembourg Full replication
HSBC MSCI Emerging Markets UCITS ETF USDIE00B5SSQT16 2,911 0.15% p.a. Distributing Ireland Full replication
Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets UCITS ETF (USD) DistributingIE00B3VVMM84 2,549 0.17% p.a. Distributing Ireland Full replication
UBS Core MSCI EM UCITS ETF USD disLU0480132876 1,985 0.15% p.a. Distributing Luxembourg Optimized sampling
Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets UCITS ETF (USD) AccumulatingIE00BK5BR733 1,540 0.17% p.a. Accumulating Ireland Full replication
State Street SPDR MSCI Emerging Markets UCITS ETF USDIE00B469F816 1,402 0.18% p.a. Accumulating Ireland Full replication
Amundi MSCI Emerging Markets Swap UCITS ETF USD AccLU1681045453 1,196 0.20% p.a. Accumulating Luxembourg Unfunded swap
Amundi Core MSCI Emerging Markets UCITS ETF EUR DistLU1737652583 860 0.18% p.a. Distributing Luxembourg Full replication
HSBC MSCI Emerging Markets UCITS ETF USD (Acc)IE000KCS7J59 849 0.15% p.a. Accumulating Ireland Full replication
Xtrackers MSCI Emerging Markets Swap UCITS ETF 1CLU0292107645 681 0.49% p.a. Accumulating Luxembourg Unfunded swap
Xtrackers MSCI Emerging Markets UCITS ETF 1DIE000GWA2J58 273 0.18% p.a. Distributing Ireland Full replication
Invesco MSCI Emerging Markets UCITS ETFIE00B3DWVS88 258 0.19% p.a. Accumulating Ireland Unfunded swap
Xtrackers MSCI Emerging Markets Swap UCITS ETF 1DLU2675291913 172 0.18% p.a. Distributing Luxembourg Unfunded swap
Amundi MSCI Emerging Markets Swap II UCITS ETF USD AccFR0010435297 135 0.55% p.a. Accumulating France Unfunded swap
Amundi Core MSCI Emerging Markets UCITS ETF USD DistLU2277591868 104 0.18% p.a. Distributing Luxembourg Full replication
iShares BIC 50 UCITS ETF USD (Dist)IE00B1W57M07 103 0.74% p.a. Distributing Ireland Full replication
iShares MSCI EM Swap UCITS ETF USD (Acc)IE000S3N6R34 86 0.14% p.a. Accumulating Ireland Unfunded swap
Franklin FTSE Emerging Markets UCITS ETF USD CapitalisationIE0004I037N4 10 0.11% p.a. Accumulating Ireland Full replication
 
Index   1 month
in %
3 months
in %
6 months
in %
1 year
in %
3 years
in %
FTSE BIC 50 -4.59% -6.09% -13.91% -2.89% 13.29%
FTSE Emerging -8.44% -0.90% 0.54% 17.08% 34.13%
MSCI Emerging Markets -11.57% 1.50% 6.06% 26.82% 41.31%
Index   2026
in %
2025
in %
2024
in %
2023
in %
2022
in %
FTSE BIC 50 -6.58% 19.69% 15.76% -12.41% -19.86%
FTSE Emerging -0.93% 16.92% 13.74% 2.02% -7.55%
MSCI Emerging Markets 2.11% 24.40% 9.13% 3.61% -10.57%

Source: justETF.com; As of 31/03/2026; Calculations in GBP based on the largest ETF of the respective index.

 

Asia indices with a large share of China

As further alternative you can invest in indices on Asia. In total, you can consider 4 Asian indices, which are tracked by 9 ETFs. The total expense ratio (TER) of ETFs on Asian indices is between 0.20% p.a. and 0.74% p.a..

 
Index Investment focus Number of ETFs Number of constituents Short description
MSCI AC Asia Pacific ex Japan Asia Pacific
China: 23.60%
(27/02/2026)
1 ETF 1,072
(31/03/2026)
The MSCI AC Asia Pacific ex Japan index tracks equity markets of the emerging and developed countries of the Asia and Pacific region, excluding Japan.
Index factsheet
MSCI AC Asia ex Japan Asia Pacific
China: 27.12%
(27/02/2026)
2 ETFs 1,021
(31/03/2026)
The MSCI AC Asia ex Japan index tracks equity markets of the emerging and developed countries of the Asia region, excluding Japan.
Index factsheet
MSCI AC Far East ex Japan Asia Pacific
China: 31.76%
(27/02/2026)
3 ETFs 857
(31/03/2026)
The MSCI AC Far East ex Japan index tracks equity markets of the emerging and developed countries of the East Asian region, excluding Japan.
Index factsheet
MSCI Emerging Markets Asia Asia Pacific
China: 29.44%
(27/02/2026)
3 ETFs 979
(31/03/2026)
The MSCI Emerging Markets Asia index tracks large and mid cap companies from Asian emerging markets.
Index factsheet
ETF
ISIN
  Fund size
in m GBP
TER
in %
Use of profits Fund domicile Replication method
iShares MSCI EM Asia UCITS ETF (Acc)IE00B5L8K969 5,343 0.20% p.a. Accumulating Ireland Full replication
State Street SPDR MSCI EM Asia UCITS ETF USDIE00B466KX20 1,140 0.55% p.a. Accumulating Ireland Full replication
iShares MSCI AC Far East ex-Japan UCITS ETFIE00B0M63730 1,125 0.74% p.a. Distributing Ireland Full replication
Amundi MSCI Emerging Markets Asia UCITS ETF USDLU1681044563 723 0.20% p.a. Accumulating Luxembourg Unfunded swap
UBS MSCI AC Asia ex Japan SF UCITS ETF USD accIE00B7WK2W23 713 0.23% p.a. Accumulating Ireland Swap-based
Amundi MSCI AC Asia Pacific Ex Japan UCITS ETF AccLU1900068328 615 0.60% p.a. Accumulating Luxembourg Unfunded swap
Amundi MSCI AC Asia Ex Japan UCITS ETF AccLU1900068161 329 0.50% p.a. Accumulating Luxembourg Unfunded swap
HSBC MSCI AC Far East ex Japan UCITS ETF USDIE00BBQ2W338 308 0.45% p.a. Accumulating Ireland Full replication
HSBC MSCI AC Far East ex Japan UCITS ETF USD (Dist)IE00022VXYM7 26 0.45% p.a. Distributing Ireland Full replication
 
Index   1 month
in %
3 months
in %
6 months
in %
1 year
in %
3 years
in %
MSCI AC Asia Pacific ex Japan -11.94% 0.72% 4.17% 23.67% 34.15%
MSCI AC Asia ex Japan -12.25% 0.45% 4.55% 25.34% 38.31%
MSCI Emerging Markets Asia -12.89% 0.15% 4.47% 25.80% 40.08%
MSCI AC Far East ex Japan -12.08% 3.95% 7.96% 35.75% 43.64%
Index   2026
in %
2025
in %
2024
in %
2023
in %
2022
in %
MSCI Emerging Markets Asia 0.13% 23.20% 13.63% 1.75% -10.37%
MSCI AC Asia ex Japan 0.57% 22.91% 13.51% 0.06% -10.16%
MSCI AC Asia Pacific ex Japan 0.71% 19.80% 11.54% 0.89% -7.77%
MSCI AC Far East ex Japan 3.93% 30.20% 13.27% -3.25% -11.22%

Source: justETF.com; As of 31/03/2026; Calculations in GBP based on the largest ETF of the respective index.