Lightweight Website Building is an AI-based website generation and hosting service. After you provide a domain name and a description of your requirements, the AI can generate a static website within minutes. This service allows you to quickly establish an online presence for your domain without backend development or server management.
Product overview
What is a lightweight website?
A lightweight website does not include a database or a complex backend system, focusing instead on displaying information. This architecture ensures fast loading speeds, high stability, and low maintenance costs.
Use cases
-
Quick launch: Rapidly create a display site for a newly registered or idle domain.
-
Compliance maintenance: Create and maintain an active site for a domain that has an ICP filing to meet regulatory requirements.
-
Domain showcase: Demonstrate the potential applications and business value of a domain to prospective buyers or partners.
Key advantages
-
AI content generation: The AI automatically generates website copy, layout, and matching images based on the industry and description you provide.
-
No-code development: The entire process is visual, allowing you to create and publish a website without writing any code.
-
Automated deployment: After a one-click publish, the system automatically handles website deployment, DNS configuration, and CDN acceleration. Your website becomes accessible via the domain name in about 10 minutes.
-
Low-cost maintenance: Ideal for scenarios where you need to quickly launch placeholder or display pages for a large number of domains.
Limitations and important notes
Before using this service, carefully review the following information to avoid unintended disruptions to your existing services.
-
Domain ownership: You can create websites only for domains under your current Alibaba Cloud account.
To build a website for other domains, see Wanxiaozi AI Website Builder.
-
Use cases: This service is for simple, display-only websites. It does not support features such as databases, e-commerce, document management, or subdomains. If you need these features, use Wanxiaozi AI Website Builder.
-
ICP filing and deployment region:
-
If your domain has not completed an ICP filing, you can only select China (Hong Kong) as the deployment region. To apply for an ICP filing, see ICP Filing Process.
-
If your domain already has an ICP filing with Alibaba Cloud, you can select either China (Hong Kong) or the Chinese mainland as the deployment region. The entity holding the ICP filing must be the same as the domain owner.
-
-
DNS configuration: The system automatically configures the DNS records for your domain, which may interrupt existing services. Use this service only after confirming that the domain is not being used for other critical services.
-
Service model: This is a term-based website hosting service. You are purchasing the right to use the website for a specified period. After the service expires, the website will be suspended and become inaccessible. If the service is not renewed within 7 days of suspension, all website data and resources will be permanently released and cannot be recovered.
Procedure
Step 1: Create a website
You can create a new website from scratch or activate a Lightweight Website Building service instance that you purchased when registering a domain.
Create a new website
|
|
|
|
Activate a purchased instance
|
|
|
|
Instances purchased with a domain can be published directly without an additional payment. Before publishing, you can request a refund from the console. After the refund is processed, the instance is released, and the payment for the Lightweight Website Building order is returned to your original payment method.
Step 2: Preview and adjust
-
In the Website List, find the target website and click Preview in the Actions column.
-
On the preview page, you can perform the following operations:
-
Modify and Edit: If you are not satisfied with the current version, click Modify and Edit in the upper-right corner to open the visual editor. You can directly edit text, images, and other content on the page. After making changes, click Save and Update Version to generate a new version, which takes effect after publishing.
-
Switch versions: If you have generated multiple versions of the website, click the
icon in the upper-right corner to switch between and preview different versions. -
Full-screen preview: Click the
icon in the upper-right corner to view the complete website in a new tab in a real browser environment. -
AI Modify: Click More and select AI Modify. You can modify the current version or generate a new one by adjusting your description for the AI.
-
icon in the upper-right corner to view the complete website in a new tab in a real browser environment.Step 3: Publish the website
Automatic DNS configuration will overwrite your domain's existing DNS records, which may disrupt services like email or other websites. Before publishing, confirm that the domain is not used for any critical services.
-
On the preview page, click Publish Website in the upper-right corner, or click Publish in the Actions column of the Website List.
-
In the pop-up window, select a deployment region. Choose China (Hong Kong) or Chinese mainland based on your domain's ICP filing status. After confirming, click Publish Now.
-
Complete payment: Select the subscription duration and complete the payment as prompted. For specific costs, see Billing.
NoteInstances purchased with a domain can be published directly without an additional payment.
-
Wait for the changes to take effect: The system will automatically complete the DNS configuration and CDN acceleration. This process takes about 10 minutes. Afterward, your website will be accessible via your domain name.
NoteDue to network conditions, access to websites deployed in China (Hong Kong) may be unstable from the Chinese mainland.
After publishing, you can view the deployment region (China (Hong Kong) or Chinese mainland) for the website in the Website List.
Step 4: Manage your website (optional)
Submit site for Baidu indexing
To optimize search engine indexing, you can submit your published website to the Baidu Search Resource Platform for verification.
-
In the Website List, find the target domain and click Preview in the Actions column.
-
On the preview page, click More in the upper-right corner and select Baidu resource verification.
-
Follow the instructions in the pop-up window to complete the domain verification process on the Baidu Search Resource Platform.
-
Obtain the HTML verification tag, paste it into the corresponding field in the console, and then Submit.
Enable auto-renewal
We recommend enabling auto-renewal for your published sites to prevent service suspension or data loss due to missed payments.
-
In the Website List, find the target domain and click in the Actions column.
-
On the Resource Renewal page that appears, click Enable Auto-renewal and confirm the renewal period in the pop-up window.
Enable HTTPS
Lightweight Website Building supports one-click HTTPS activation. The system automatically applies for and deploys a free SSL certificate without requiring you to manually upload or configure it.
Enable HTTPS
-
In the Website List, find the target website and click in the Actions column.
-
The status in the HTTPS column for the site changes to Enabling. After about 10 minutes, it changes to Enabled.
Disable HTTPS
-
In the Actions column for the target site, click .
-
In the confirmation dialog box, click OK. After disabling HTTPS, users will access the website via the HTTP protocol.
Modify webpage TDK
TDK refers to a webpage's Title, Description, and Keywords. Properly configured TDK is important for search engine optimization (SEO) because it improves your site's ranking and appearance in search results.
-
In the Website List, find the target website and click in the Actions column. The Website Settings page opens in a new tab.
-
On the SEO settings tab, fill in the following information as needed:
-
Website Title (Required): Set the webpage title, which appears in the browser tab and search results.
-
Keywords: After entering a keyword, press Enter to confirm. Each keyword becomes a separate tag. You can add multiple keyword tags. Click the delete icon on a tag to remove it.
-
Page Description: Enter a description for the webpage. The character limit is 100.
-
-
Click Confirm to save the settings. The TDK changes take effect in about 5 minutes.
Billing
Billing rules
This service uses a prepaid billing model. The fee includes the initial website generation and a specified period of hosting service.
-
Initial purchase: The fee for the first month for each website is CNY 15.
-
Renewal: Starting from the second month, the renewal price is CNY 5/month.
Prices may be adjusted based on official website promotions. The price displayed on the checkout page is final.
Renewal, suspension, and resource release
-
Expiration and suspension: When the purchased service period expires, the website is immediately suspended, making it inaccessible via the domain name.
-
Renewal: You can renew the service after it expires or is suspended. The website will be restored after a successful renewal.
-
Resource release: If the service is not renewed within 7 days of suspension, the system will permanently release all related resources, including website files and configurations. The data cannot be recovered, and the website creation record will be deleted.
Refund rules
-
Manual refunds: During the service period, you can release your website resources at any time in the console. The system will refund a pro-rated amount based on the remaining service time.
-
Automatic refunds: When a domain is sold, transferred out, or moved between different Alibaba Cloud accounts, the system automatically triggers the resource release and refund process for the website.
FAQ
Lightweight vs. Wanxiaozi AI Website Builder
Lightweight Website Building is only suitable for simple, single-page display websites (such as for company information, domain sales, or personal resumes). It does not include features like databases, form submission, product management, article management, or a membership system. It also does not support custom file uploads, payment integration, lead collection, or email forwarding. Lightweight Website Building does not have a backend management system or offer fixed templates. If you need these advanced features, please use Wanxiaozi AI Website Builder.
The following table compares the features of Lightweight Website Building and Wanxiaozi AI Website Builder:
|
Item |
Lightweight Website Building |
Wanxiaozi AI Website Builder |
|
Website type |
Single-page static display website |
Multi-page dynamic website with complex features |
|
Backend management system |
No |
Yes |
|
Database |
Not supported |
Supported |
|
Template selection |
No fixed templates; layout is generated by AI |
Offers a variety of industry-specific templates |
|
Form/Product management |
Not supported |
Supports form submission and product management |
|
SEO settings |
Supports basic TDK settings |
Supports comprehensive SEO configuration |
|
Use cases |
Simple scenarios like corporate information display, domain for sale showcases, and resumes |
Complex scenarios like corporate websites, e-commerce sites, and content management |
ICP filing services
No. Lightweight Website Building supports only domains that already have an ICP filing. This product does not include a free ICP filing or an ICP filing service code. To obtain an ICP filing, please purchase a product like an ECS instance or use Wanxiaozi AI Website Builder.
Is a cloud server required?
No. Lightweight Website Building includes cloud resources such as storage and CDN traffic, so you do not need to purchase a separate cloud server. However, this solution is only suitable for simple websites with normal traffic. If you require a database, large storage capacity, or high traffic support, please use Wanxiaozi AI Website Builder or purchase a cloud server.
Deployment to own server and code download
No. Lightweight Website Building includes its own storage and CDN resources and does not support deploying the website to your own ECS or Simple Application Server. It also does not currently provide code package downloads.
Publishing after trial
After the trial, you must pay to publish the website. On the preview page, click Publish Website in the upper-right corner, select a deployment region, and complete the payment.
Using a bundled service
If you purchased Lightweight Website Building as a bundle when registering your domain, go to the Lightweight Website Building console after your domain registration is complete. Find the instance corresponding to that domain (its status will be Pending Creation), click Start Building, and publish the site after completing the building process. No additional payment is required.
Modifying a published website
Yes. You can still modify the content after the website is published at no extra charge. After making changes, click Publish Website again to update the live content.
Accessing a published website
The website's address is the domain name you used to build it. The system automatically configures the domain resolution, so it can be accessed with or without the "www" prefix. You can also click the link icon next to the domain in the website list to visit it directly.
Manual DNS configuration
No. After the website is published, the system automatically configures the domain resolution, including DNS and CDN. You do not need to manually add a CNAME or A record. The website will be accessible via the domain name in about 10 minutes.
"Save Draft" vs. "Save and Update Version"
In the editor:
-
Save Draft: Temporarily saves your current changes without creating a new version. These changes will not be published.
-
Save and Update Version: Creates a new version and adds it to the version history. When you publish, the website is updated with these changes.
Adding filing information to the footer
Yes. You can add this requirement to your description when using AI Modify, or you can use the editor to add the filing information and links manually.
Baidu resource verification issues
When submitting for Baidu resource verification, ensure that the protocol type you select (HTTP/HTTPS) matches the current status of your website. If your website does not have HTTPS enabled, select HTTP on the Baidu platform. If it has HTTPS enabled, select the HTTPS protocol.
Website inaccessible after publishing
After publishing, it takes about 10 minutes for the domain resolution and CDN configuration to complete. If the website remains inaccessible after this 10-minute period, follow these troubleshooting steps:
-
Confirm that you have waited at least 10 minutes.
-
Try accessing the site using the HTTP protocol.
-
If the website is deployed in China (Hong Kong), access from some regions may be slow or unavailable due to network issues. We recommend obtaining an ICP filing for your domain and deploying it to the Chinese mainland.
-
If none of these steps resolve the issue, please submit a ticket to contact technical support.
Stuck publishing process
If the publishing process seems stuck or fails, it may be due to a CDN domain conflict. If this occurs, a notification with a solution is usually displayed on the page. You can check if the domain already exists in the CDN console. If it does, delete it and try again. If the issue persists after following the prompts, please submit a ticket to contact technical support.
Fixing garbled text
Garbled text is usually caused by an anomaly in the AI-generated code, which is rare. If this happens, you can click More in the website list and select AI Modify to try regenerating the website content.
Version generation timeout
If a new version has not finished generating after 30 minutes, you can use the version management feature to switch back to a previous version. If the problem continues, please submit a ticket to contact technical support.
Checking the deployment region
Log on to the Alibaba Cloud Domains console. In the left-side navigation pane, click Lightweight Website Building. You can view the deployment region for each website in the Deployment Region column of the website list.