(Yicai Global) July 9 -- The US has again become an important destination for Chinese companies seeking initial public offerings after internet giant Alibaba Group Holding floated in the US in 2014. Some 15 Chinese enterprises went public on American stock exchanges in the first half of this year, including several featured internet firms.

The increasing acceptance of Chinese companies by the US market means the number of Chinese firms seeking US listings is set to keep growing, an insider told Yicai Global.

Unlike last year, many Chinese companies that listed in the first half of this year are in the entertainment industry. Aside from online video sites iQiyi [NASDAQ:IQ]and Bilibili [NASDAQ:BILI], game-streaming platform Huya [[NASDAQ:HUYA] also went public in the US in the first half. Though some stocks dipped briefly below their IPO prices in the early days of trading, many have risen substantially above them as the overall market improves.

For example, Huya stock has been surging since its listing on May 11, closing at USD32.89 on the last trading day in June, up almost twofold from its IPO price.

Though shares in Chinese video sites iQiyi and Bilibili, both of which went public on Nasdaq in March, fell below their IPO prices on the first trading day, both rebounded sharply later. Shares in iQiyi rose from its IPO price of USD18 to close at USD29.92 on July 6, and even hit a record high of USD46.23 in mid-June.

However, unlike last year when many Chinese fintech companies rush to list in the US, only two Chinese fintech firms -- Golden Bull [NASDAQ:DNJR] and Senmiao Technology [NASDAQ:AIHS] -- completed US IPOs in the first half of the year.

education enterprises remain eager about US flotations, with three companies -- OneSmart International Education Group [NYSE:ONE], Sunlands Online Education Group [NYSE:STG] and Puxin [NYSE:NEW] -- issuing on US bourses in the first half.

Companies face lower listing requirements in Hong Kong and the US, and the registration-based listing scheme of the US stock market helps save time, an insider in private equity and venture capital circles in Beijing told Yicai Global. This allows internet companies that have yet to post profits such as iQiyi to access the US stock market, and their stock performance after listing also serves as an example for peer companies seeking a listing, he added.

However, he also pointed out possible problems that Chinese companies may encounter after listing in the US. "Some Chinese firms may meet with little enthusiasm before and after their flotations as the US capital market may not know about them," he said. "Since the US stock market has lower listing requirements, but imposes tough regulation on listed companies, some Chinese businesses may also encounter risks that force their delisting."

Editor: Ben Armour