How To Access an Unrestricted Internet While Traveling in China | VyprVPN (2024)

FAQs

How To Access an Unrestricted Internet While Traveling in China | VyprVPN? ›

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Even though the internet is available throughout China, not all internet is available for tourists. In fact, many internet cafes only accept customers with Chinese ID, preventing foreign travelers from accessing what they'd take for granted normally.

You'll need a reliable VPN for China to get unfettered internet access. It will help you access blocked content, communicate with loved ones in other countries, and protect your internet traffic from snoopers and government surveillance.

Use a VPN

Unlike proxies and browser extensions, a good VPN will encrypt your data so that it is virtually unreadable to hackers and government surveillance programs. You'll also have your choice of virtual locations across the globe so you can easily bypass geoblocking.

Are VPNs in China illegal? Short answer: VPNs are not illegal in China, but their use is heavily restricted. Long answer: Using a VPN in China is not officially illegal. China allows VPN providers to operate as long as they cooperate with the state, which defeats the privacy purpose of having a VPN in the first place.

BEST VPN FOR CHINA:NordVPN is our top pick. It puts your privacy first, works reliably in high-censorship countries like China, and can handle just about any real-world task. What's more, this service has a 30-day money-back guarantee so you can try it risk-free. For more details, read our complete NordVPN review.

While it may seem like almost all the popular sites that you probably access daily would most likely be blocked in China, there are some well-known sites that are not blocked. Sites like Amazon, Yahoo, Microsoft, Skype, and Zoom are all available.

IP Blocks — This is the most common way the Chinese government detects and blocks VPNs. Basically, it uses automated systems that flag popular VPN IP addresses (or IP addresses ranges), which the Great Firewall then blocks. Once that happens, nobody in China can connect to said IP addresses.

Netflix is one of the world's leading entertainment services with over 200 million members in over 190 countries. Our library of TV shows and movies varies by country and changes periodically. Netflix is not available in: China.

Can I use WhatsApp in China? ›

Unfortunately, the answer is no. WhatsApp, like many other services, has fallen victim to widespread censorship. WhatsApp, a widely used messaging app worldwide, is notably absent in China due to the strict internet censorship policies enforced by the government.

China's censorship includes the complete blockage of various websites, apps, and video games, inspiring the policy's nickname, the Great Firewall of China (simplified Chinese: 防火长城; traditional Chinese: 防火長城; pinyin: Fánghuǒ Chángchéng), which blocks websites.

You can use FaceTime over Wi-Fi¹ or over cellular on supported iOS or iPadOS devices. FaceTime isn't available or might not appear on devices purchased in United Arab Emirates. Group FaceTime and FaceTime Audio are not available in China mainland on iPhone and iPad with cellular.

Google Search is partially blocked in China. Requests from the mainland to Google Search, including Google.com and Google.cn, are automatically redirected to Google.com.hk, the company's Hong Kong servers. Depending on what you search for on the Hong Kong version, the results may or may not be censored while in China.

The document states, "Laws and regulations prohibit the spread of information that contains content subverting state power, undermining national unity [or] infringing upon national honor and interests." It adds that foreign individuals and firms can use the Internet in China, but they must abide by the country's laws.

The bottom line is – you can use your phone in China, but you need to make sure you've done your homework before you do. Determine whether you can/want to use your personal phone or if you'll need to buy or rent a China phone. This will give you a good starting point to figure out how you'll use a phone in China.

Avoid public wifi and public hotspots. Use VPN if use of public wifi or hotspots is unavoidable. Use trusted wifi instead of cellular data whenever possible. Understand the sensitivity of your data.