Note 14 - Taxation (Details Textual) $ in Thousands, $ in Millions	12 Months Ended			21 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2019 HKD ($)	Nov. 30, 2015
Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation, at Federal Statutory Income Tax Rate, Percent	21.00%	21.00%	35.00%
Increase (Decrease) in Amount of Toll Charge Income From the Act		$ 460
Amount of Toll Charge Income From the Act		1,860	$ 1,400
Federal Income Tax Expense (Benefit), Continuing Operations, Total	$ 0	0
Income Tax Withholding Rate Pursuant to EIT Law	10.00%
Operating Loss Carryforwards, Total	$ 20,300	19,200
Operating Loss Carryforwards, Taxable Income Deduction Limitations	80.00%
Deferred Tax Assets, Valuation Allowance, Total	$ 9,190	9,875
Valuation Allowance, Deferred Tax Asset, Increase (Decrease), Amount	$ 180	$ 3,500
Minimum [Member]
PRC Value Added Tax Surcharge Rate	12.00%
Maximum [Member]
PRC Value Added Tax Surcharge Rate	14.00%
PRC [Member]
PRC Value Added Tax Rate for Modern Service Provided	6.00%	6.00%
PRC [Member] | Provision of Modern Services Small Scale Tax Payer [Member]
PRC Value Added Tax Rate for Modern Service Provided Small Scale Tax Payer	3.00%	3.00%
Tax Treaty Agreement [Member]
Income Tax Withholding Rate Pursuant to EIT Law	5.00%
HONG KONG
Federal Income Tax Expense (Benefit), Continuing Operations, Total	$ 0
Other Tax Expense (Benefit)	0
Applicable Income Tax Rate for First Profit Limit				8.25%
Taxable Profits for Applicable Income Tax Rate				$ 2
Applicable Income Tax Rate for Subsequent Profit				16.50%
Profits Assessable	0
ChinaNet BVI [Member]
Other Tax Expense (Benefit)	$ 0
Other PRC Operating Entities [Member] | PRC [Member]
Applicable Income Tax Rate	25.00%	25.00%
Business Opportunity Online [Member] | PRC [Member]
Applicable Income Tax Rate	15.00%
Business Opportunity Online [Member] | PRC [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Enterprise Income Tax Rate In PRC					15.00%
PRC Subsidiary And VIE's [Member]
Operating Loss Carryforwards, Total	$ 23,600	$ 25,200