See main article: 2011 China Open (tennis). Chuang Chia-jung and Olga Govortsova were the defending champions, and lost to Daniela Hantuchová and Agnieszka Radwańska in the first round.
Květa Peschke and Katarina Srebotnik won this tournament by defeating Gisela Dulko and Flavia Pennetta in the final.
The top four seeds received a bye into the second round.