Best VPN for China
👨💻
Click here for a summary of this summary text: Best VPN for China
Connecting to the Internet in China is a completely different experience compared to connecting to the Internet from anywhere else in the world. The Chinese government has blocked many websites, making it nearly impossible for people within the country’s borders to access these websites.
However, some VPNs allow you to get around the Chinese firewall. Here are the three best VPNs that you can use in China to access YouTube, Netflix, Facebook, Twitter, Discord, and countless other websites and platforms.
- ExpressVPN (has private ‘hidden’ servers)
- NordVPN (uses obfuscated servers)
- VyprVPN (Chameleon Advanced Technology)
Would you like to learn more about China, the restrictions on the Internet, and the many ways a VPN can help you? Read our full article below to find out more.
China is a country with unprecedented economic growth. In a short time, China became one of the largest superpowers in the world. Unfortunately, China is also a country where free internet is not as widely available as in the West. Anyone traveling to China will notice that sites like Gmail, Facebook, and YouTube are not available here. It’s a shame because it scares western tourists, companies and expats. Moreover, Chinese citizens do not have access to all the information there.
Fortunately, there is a way to bypass the Chinese firewall. The solution is very simple: use a VPN. A VPN is a piece of software that protects your Internet connection and can connect you to the Internet through a server in another country. The latter ensures that the Chinese firewall will not “detect” that you are trying to access one of these blocked websites from China. Keep reading to find out exactly how this works and which VPN is the best option to use in China.
Top 3 VPNs for China
There are VPNs that have special features that allow them to bypass the Chinese firewall without being detected. You can often install these VPNs on your smartphone or tablet so that you can use them freely in China. Below you will find an overview of the best VPN providers for China. Looking for more? Check out our VPN comparison tool.
ExpressVPN for China
ExpressVPN is not the cheapest VPN service but it is one of the best in China. It uses hidden servers in Hong Kong specifically designed to bypass the firewall. ExpressVPN also has a lot of servers near China – for example in Japan, Malaysia, and Thailand – for a fast and censorship-free internet connection.
ExpressVPN uses a kill switch for the privacy of its customers. This stops all internet applications once the VPN connection is disconnected. This means that no information will be exposed through an unsecured connection.
The VPN service also offers DNS leak protection, WebRTC leak protection and OpenVPN encryption with total forward secrecy to encrypt your information and ensure your privacy. It might sound a little technical, but the bottom line is that you stay safe and anonymous, even in China.
- It is very easy to use a VPN
- Perfect for browsing, downloading and streaming anonymously (eg Netflix)
- 3000+ servers in 94 countries
Visit ExpressVPN
NordVPN for China
NordVPN uses another method to bypass the firewall called “Obfsproxy VPN technology”. This is the same powerful technology that Tor uses to overcome barriers. With this service, you don’t have to worry about privacy.
NordVPN also uses a kill switch and offers DNS leak protection. NordVPN has OpenVPN encryption with perfect forward secrecy. You have to connect through a private NordVPN server because you have to use Obfsproxy.
Another feature that NordVPN offers to users in China is dedicated IP addresses. These are unique IP addresses that only one person uses at a time. On the contrary, regular VPN IP addresses are shared by many users at the same time. This means that VPN users with assigned IP addresses are harder to detect and harder to block by Chinese government VPN blocks.
- Excellent protection and a large network of servers
- Nice and fun app
- no records
Visit NordVPN
VyprVPN for China
VyprVPN uses port selection and a stealth technology called “chameleon”. This technology is specifically designed to bypass the firewall. It makes encrypted VPN traffic look like normal internet traffic.
The most amazing thing about this VPN service is that it has complete control over its entire infrastructure. No third parties increase speed and privacy. The disadvantages are that connection logs are kept (when connected to a VPN) and that P2P (torrenting) is not allowed.
- Fast servers at a good price
- Netflix and torrenting are possible
- Special “Camelion” technology to protect your data
Visit VyprVPN
China’s Great Firewall: Why is China blocking websites?
The Great Firewall of China, also known as “Golden Shield” is the largest internet censorship system in the world. Not all parts of the Internet that you can access are easily accessible in the United States and other countries in China. Google, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and many other websites are blocked. but why?
The Chinese government has several reasons for blocking websites. Sometimes these include “protecting” their own citizens, or protecting Chinese companies from foreign competition. Moreover, censorship is also used to spread or prevent certain ideologies in China.
By blocking certain websites, the Chinese government is trying to protect its citizens from content that it considers dangerous or inappropriate. Moreover, this means that Chinese companies are also protected from competition from abroad. For example, since citizens are only able to access the Chinese version of Facebook (WeChat), they are forced to use that instead of a competitor from outside China. It also makes it easier for the government to verify the data of Chinese companies and citizens.
How does the Chinese censorship system work?
The Great Chinese Firewall consists of a variety of technologies. This includes blocking websites’ IP addresses, as well as filtering Domain Name Systems (DNS), URLs, and packets. China is also actively blocking VPNs. However, some VPN providers, like the three mentioned above, have found ways around this.
China is a huge country, so it is impossible for the government to monitor in detail all the internet activities of its citizens. As a result, the firewall can be very inconsistent: a site that is blocked in one province may be accessible in another.
This means that the massive firewall is completely unsecured. It is an ongoing cat-and-mouse game between blocked websites and the Chinese authorities. First, someone finds a hole in the firewall, then China closes this hole and the circuit starts again. Despite this, it is becoming increasingly difficult for Chinese citizens to gain free access to the Internet.
What are the blocked websites in China?
It’s a nuisance at best for both Chinese citizens and foreign visitors, as they don’t have access to a free and full version of the internet.
The table below contains an overview of popular websites that are blocked in China. We do not mention all the blocked sites (this list is quite long), but we provide you with some well-known and commonly used blocked sites.
| blocked site | banned since |
|---|---|
| Chinese Wikipedia (part) | May 2015 |
| discord | July 2018 |
| drop box | June 2014 |
| DuckDuckGo | September 2014 |
| Facebook social networking site | July 2009 |
| flickr | July 2014 |
| Google (Maps, Docs, Gmail, etc.) | May 2014 |
| HBO | June 2018 |
| September 2014 | |
| Microsoft OneDrive | July 2014 |
| Netflix | Anonymous |
| March 2017 | |
| Pornhub | May 2012 |
| August 2018 | |
| SlideShare | Anonymous |
| piratesbay | February 2012 |
| tinder | Anonymous |
| Torproject | 2008 |
| Twitch | September 2018 |
| June 2009 | |
| vimeo | October 2009 |
| The WhatsApp | September 2017 |
| Youtube | March 2009 |
Gmail, Facebook and YouTube in China
A virtual private network is a simple and fairly well-known solution to countering Chinese censorship on the Internet. With a VPN, you can easily bypass barriers as it connects you to the internet through a server located outside of China. Internet traffic can be diverted across Germany, for example.
The Chinese firewall can only see that you are connected to a German server, not that you are connected to Google. This server is allowed, so your connection can be established. China does not know that you are actually using Google via that external server. It can be difficult to understand exactly how a VPN works, but it generally works like this:
Access YouTube from China without a VPN
Without a VPN, the Chinese firewall sees that you are trying to access a site that it has blocked. You will receive a message that the site you are trying to visit cannot be reached.
Access YouTube from China with a VPN
With a VPN, your data will be encrypted and only the Chinese firewall will see that you want to connect to a server in another country. The Chinese firewall does not recognize this as a blocked website and will allow the connection. The site you are trying to visit will now be available.
Are VPNs legal in China?
Since China blocks VPNs, you may be wondering if VPNs are illegal in China. This is a little gray area. So far, no cases have been reported of anyone who has encountered a problem due to using a VPN, but China is trying to make using a VPN as difficult as possible. VPN sites are blocked and VPN software for Android and iOS is not available in the app stores. In 2015, phone connections were cut off for all VPN users in Xinjiang. This connection was not restored until the VPN software was removed. However, this was a one-off.
As a foreigner, you will encounter very few problems if you are using a VPN in China. Although non-state approved VPNs were recently banned in China, nothing has been done about it. In short: nothing to worry about yet, but it’s good to keep up with the news about VPN use in China.
Install VPN for China
You almost don’t need technical knowledge to install a VPN. You can install the VPN simply by downloading and running a file. It works the same as installing Spotify, for example. Install a VPN on your desktop using this step-by-step guide:
- Go to your chosen VPN provider’s website, select a subscription and create an account.
- Download the VPN installer file for your operating system or login to the website and download the installation file from your account page.
- Run the installation wizard from the downloaded file.
- Open the VPN app and sign in with your account information.
- If necessary, customize your settings and choose a server. Note that VPN providers have different ways to ensure a successful connection in China. You may have to consider the exact steps to take.
- Turn on the VPN. There is usually a clear button or switch in the VPN software. Once the VPN is connected, you can enjoy censorship-free internet in China
This largely works on Android or iOS, but you can only download the software from the App Store or Google Play. It’s also helpful not to have a separate account for each device. You can install your VPN on all your devices and you only need one account and subscription to log in.
please note: Some VPN provider websites are blocked in China. This means that you cannot download and install the VPN while you are in China. So always make sure you have a VPN installed before you go to China. It can be difficult to terminate a VPN subscription from China.
Chinese Alternatives to Western Sites
Perhaps you don’t want to use a VPN or you are interested in Chinese alternatives to Western sites. China has its own counterpart in almost every known western location. They have their own search engines, video sites, and social media. It’s fun to see. Perhaps you can communicate better with the locals by using these sites.
WeChat is especially popular in China. It’s used for just about anything and you’re really going to lose if you’ve been in China for a long time and don’t use it. in a…
[ad_1]
Don’t forget to share this post with friends !
