How to access blocked websites from China?

Traveling to China involves a lot of unknowns. The language is very different, the culture is very different, and yes, the internet is also very different.

Many people are shocked at how much of the internet is limited in China. They pack their laptop and expect to log onto their favorite service or check out what their friends are up to on Facebook, but they are sorely disappointed.

So, if you are planning a trip to China, you better be ready for a whole new experience when you log on to the worldwide web. In China they utilize a thing called the Great Fire Wall, blocking outside influence to reach their public through the internet.

China takes internet censorship very seriously.

The Top websites with no access in China:

Can You Access Google in China?

Unfortunately, the most popular internet platform, Google is not available in China. For anyone who wants to get on Gmail, use Google Drive, or even use the Chrome browser, you’ll have to find other means when you are in China. Their Firewall will block these entirely.

You could possibly find alternate ways to get an email. You could always use a different email program synced to your Gmail. But without testing it first, it isn’t a guarantee that it will work. Also, if you use Drive for work, that is a big problem if you can’t share your documents with coworkers or collaborators.

It’s also important to know that if you own a phone with Google software such as the Pixel, it won’t work at all in China. You’ll have to bring a completely different phone on your trip.

The best fix is at the bottom of this article. Keep reading to find out more.

Can You Use Skype in China?

Although you can use Skype in China, you won’t be able to download it while you are there. If you plan on using this as a means to contact others while in China for free, I suggest you download the app to your phone before you get on the plane to China.

Once you are there, your connection might be a bit laggy, but if you keep reading to the end of this article, the solution to that problem will be presented.

As a side note, other calling or video messaging apps are completely blocked in China. These include Facebook Messenger, Google Duo and Hangouts, Line, Viber, and WhatsApp.

FaceTime and WeChat are two video messaging apps that still work in China.

Is Youtube Available in China?

YouTube was one of the first websites blocked by China. YouTube is owned by Google and we already know how China feels about that American company.

The fact that anyone can upload a video to YouTube and present an anti-communist idea makes China very much against YouTube. Accessing YouTube in China is still possible, but you’ll need a certain app that we will discuss at the end of this article.

Can You Get on Facebook in China?

The Great Firewall of China does not allow any social media, and this includes Facebook. You won’t be able to access Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter, and the list goes on.

China is worried about the social ramifications of such liberal comments and posts that are available on Facebook. In fact, there was a riot in China back in 2009 and the activists responsible for this riot used Facebook as a way to communicate and invite others to join them.

Since then, Facebook was seen as a danger to the Chinese way and blocked its citizens from being able to access this and other social networking sites.

There is still a way to get on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest while you visit China. As the saying goes, “there’s an app for that.” And we will discuss these apps at the end of this article.

What Other Type of Websites are Blocked in China?

You might be thinking that this internet censorship is a new thing, but China has been keeping foreign websites blocked since the day the internet was launched back in 1996. Since then, it’s only gotten progressively worse. They have waged war on foreign internet and have passed many policies through the legislature to make it official.

The Chinese government is constantly checking the internet and deciding which new websites need to be blocked to “protect” their people and their ways. As you probably have guessed, there is an extensive list of websites that are blocked.

Although China claims to be simply safeguarding their nation from the ill effects of worldly views, it’s tactics mimic paranoia.

Websites that show news from other countries are blocked. The Wall Street Journal is a good example of news sites that are blocked. The New York Times, Reuters, BBC, and CNN are on the list as well.

Along with Google, Amazon, Yahoo, and DuckDuckGo are blocked search engines. Blogger and WordPress blogging platforms are blocked. You can’t even use sharing sites like Dropbox or Shutterstock.

This is just the tip of the iceberg of websites that China has blocked. Understandably, people have been looking for a way to get around this Great Firewall and although China tries to swat away their attempts, many have been successful.

Are There Any Apps that You Can Use to Make the Internet Better When Traveling to China?

People are very innovative in finding a way to say what they want and see what they want. When it comes to blocking a whole fraction of the information available in the world through the internet, how does China think they will succeed?

Internet developers have been working since day one to find a loophole in the Great Firewall and they found away.

Remember when I mentioned the solution to the problem of using Skype or the fix to the Google problem in China? How about the app that solves the social media connection problem?

The answer to all these problems is a good VPN. VPNs, or virtual private networks, are a great way to continue to access all your favorite websites that China has blocked while visiting their country and it’s surprisingly easy.

A VPN is a secure portal that will redirect your internet usage from the horribly censored Chinese internet to a more friendly location. All you do is log onto your VPN, connect to a server outside of China, and your internet blocks are gone!

It is recommended that you connect to a server that is as close to your location as you can, such as Singapore. This will keep the lag from the VPN redirect to a minimum. This lag will make your internet a little bit slower than what you are used to but at least you can still connect to all your favorite sites.

There are two things you must know about VPNs before you get to China:

1. Buy the service and download the app before you leave for China. Once you get into China, you won’t be able to find the VPN sites to download from.
2. Make sure you choose the right VPN. Some are already blocked by China! Most of these blocked VPNs are free and easily found and blocked by China. If you want to have a VPN that works hard to stay useful in China, you need to be willing to pay for their services.

In order to actually connect to the internet in China, you have a few choices. You can use the free Wi-Fi from your hotel if they offer it. This connection might be slow and when you use your VPN it can make it even slower.

You also have the option of buying a local SIM card and putting it into your phone. This will give you internet access. You might be surprised at how fast it runs out and you have to re-up but you will still have internet access with you wherever you go.

The last option is to buy a pocket Wi-Fi and bring it with you. This pocket Wi-Fi is similar to a hotspot that is mobile. You can literally fit it in your pocket, hence the name.

Of course, no matter how you choose to get internet, you still need a good VPN in order to be able to bypass the Great Firewall of China and access blocked sites like Facebook, Google, Twitter, Pandora, and YouTube.

If you are planning on a trip to China, but don’t want to be limited in your internet usage, make the wisest choice and invest in a good VPN before you leave. Decide how you will be getting internet access and bring a non-google phone.

Then you can enjoy your stay in China without having to worry about missing out on all your favorite to-dos on the internet.  VPNs are the answer to China’s internet censorship.

Best VPN services that work in China

Short Reviews Of the Top 3 VPN’s for Accessing Blocked Websites

1. Express VPN

Coming out of the British Virgin Islands with virtually no privacy laws, Express VPN can offer its customers a no-log policy and ultimate privacy. You won’t ever have to worry about their information being seized and it coming back to you.

They effectively hide your IP address through a variety of security measures. Their encryption is a state of the art cybersecurity to give you peace of mind while surfing, or scrolling.
They offer unlimited bandwidth for express speed, hence their name! Their global network spans over 160 locations in 90 different countries.

get a vpn for china with Express VPN

2. Cyber Ghost VPN

This VPN also has a no-logs policy, keeping your IP address hidden as well as your internet activity. They use military-grade encryption to keep hackers and other uninvited guests out of your business.

All you need is one subscription to access all of their servers with up to seven different devices. This will save you money and headaches. The automatic kill switch will keep you protected even if your connection is lost.

get a vpn for china with CyberGhost VPN

2. Private Internet Access

Private Internet Access is best known for its affordable pricing plans, but its unblocking capabilities are still top-notch. Private Internet Access for YouTube offers the same unblocking features with high speeds as other leading VPN services. In fact, the app has a dedicated “unblock” section where you can pick a server according to the site it unblocks. Note that you can use some servers in this section to unblock other services not listed on the page.

Private Internet Access boasts of more than 7,000 servers with over 1,000+ located in the US which is way more than most VPN providers. For total security, the VPN uses 356-bit military-grade encryption and IP masking. There is also a full-on Wi-Fi protection feature and a reliable no-logs policy. For quick solutions to issues, CyberGhost offers a reliable 24/7 live chat customer support service.

get a vpn for china with Private Internet Access

Read More: New To VPN? Read Our Complete Guide for VPN Beginners