Gao Xiaosong sees his career move into SOHU.com as a sign of the changing times. In his opinion, it is time for the Chinese Internet industry to review its role and combine forces with the traditional industries and business to establish a new type of industry. "Internet is like electricity. It only has a function if it is plugged into the traditional industries to develop itself ", explains Gao.

E-commerce in the entertainment industry is the most promising area in the quickly developing Chinese Internet market, says Gao Xiaosong. "Entertainment products such as VCDs, books, caps, clothing etc, are highly brand-conscious purchasing items. By co-branding such products with SOHU.com's strong brand, we think we can develop sales succesfully", says the famed pop star.

"I also think there is more potential for entertainment e-commerce to develop in China than in the United States and other western countries, because these countries have already mature sales and marketing systems. In China we are still underdeveloped in these areas. The good side of this is that there are more opportunities to win customers online than through traditional means", according to Gao.

The well-known artist and musician is glad to join SOHU.com. "SOHU.com is a great company with a strong management team and the ambition to succeed. Young people look at SOHU.com and think it is a cool name", explains Gao.

" I share a common cultural and educational background with Charles Zhang. So we have an excellent basis on which to work together and make the entertainment feature of our web site the leading destination for visitors who want to be well-informed and shop around at the same time", says Gao.

Charles Zhang, president and CEO of SOHU.com, welcomes Gao Xiaosong into his management team: "I 'm happy he has decided to join. Personally I am a fan of Gao's music. He has a unique talent in his area. And he has made contributions in arts, such as music, movies and literature. His experience in the arts and entertainment industry guarantee success for SOHU.com's e-commerce ambitions," says Charles Zhang.

Brief Introduction of Gao Xiaosong

1969 Born into a family of senior intellectuals

1988 Electronic Engineering department of Qinghua University, major in Radar

1991 Dropped out of Qinghua University and attended the preparatory course for postgraduate study of film directing in Beijing Film Academy

1992 Postgraduate study of film directing in Beijing Film Academy but was not successful.

1993 Issued debut album Collegiate Ballads 1, which won almost all the prizes of pop music that year. In the years that followed, worked as a composer of both music and lyrics, sometimes the producer.

1994 1996 Issued a collection of his musical works Youth with No Regret. Later that year, successfully held a concert of his own music at Wutaishan Stadium in Nanjing

1997-1998 Completed novel Face on the Wall, scenario Where Have All the Flowers Gone and some other literature

1999 Director and music composer of expressionist film Where Have All the Flowers Gone

About SOHU.com
SOHU.com is the leading Internet portal in Mainland China with current daily page views exceeding 12 million. It provides navigation/search, news, sports, business and finance, real estate channel, entertainment, chat, email and e-commerce activities for a solid and wide base of visitors. Dr. Charles Zhang founded SOHU.com in 1997. Its investors include Intel, Dow Jones, IDG, the Morningside China Group, PCCW, Legend and Hikari. Its content partners include CNET, DOW Jones and dozens of local media organizations in China.

For further information:
Dahlia Wei
SOHU Investor Relations and Communications
Tel: +86 10 6272 6598
E-mail: ir@sohu-inc.com
http://www.sohu.com/about/English/