Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income (In thousands, except for number of shares and per share data) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Sales
From unrelated parties	$ 28,105	$ 40,423
From related parties	626	1,164
	28,731	41,587
Cost of sales	12,027	18,970
Gross margin	16,704	22,617
Operating expenses
Selling expenses	3,506	3,403
General and administrative expenses	7,904	3,460
Research and development expenses	2,132	907
	13,542	7,770
Income from operations	3,162	14,847
Other income (expenses)
Interest income	13	13
Gain on deconsolidation of subsidiaries	925
Other income	5	6
	873	1,880
Income before income tax expense, equity method investments and noncontrolling interests	4,035	16,727
Income tax expense	1,035	352
Income before equity method investments and noncontrolling interests	3,000	16,375
Share of losses in equity investment affiliates	(219)
Net income	2,781	16,375
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	214	214
Net income attributable to ChinaNet Online Holdings, Inc.	2,995	16,589
Dividend of Series A convertible preferred stock	(407)	(794)
Net income attributable to common stockholders of ChinaNet Online Holdings, Inc.	2,588	15,795
Earnings per common share
Basic (in Dollars per share)	$ 0.14	$ 0.94
Diluted (in Dollars per share)	$ 0.14	$ 0.79
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding:
Basic (in Shares)	18,545,609	16,778,176
Diluted (in Shares)	18,759,240	20,896,061
Comprehensive Income
Foreign currency translation gain	1,254	813
Comprehensive income	4,035	17,188
Comprehensive Income
Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	(162)	(214)
Comprehensive income attributable to ChinaNet’s Online Holdings, Inc.	4,197	17,402
Warrant [Member]
Other income (expenses)
Changes in fair value		1,861
Contingent Consideration Receivable [Member]
Other income (expenses)
Changes in fair value	$ (70)