You are planning your next vacation, and it will be held in China – you’ll surely wonder how to remain connected with the world. So if you usually spend time on Google, Face book, and other recognizable sites, you are going to experience a little something different. The “Great Firewall” of China prevents one from connecting to popular apps, receiving updates or even using Google Maps.
Since VPNs remain the most popular solution for avoiding such restrictions, they are not always effective and require special configuration. them, in this article we will describe the difficulties of the Internet connection in China and examine ways how to use Google, Facebook, and other blocked resources in China without any VPN.
I. Understanding China’s Internet Censorship
The policies that China uses to regulate Internet access are commonly called the “Great Firewall,” The Great Firewall is an array of tools and mechanisms that prevent China users from accessing entire categories of Websites, blogs, social networks, and other outside services. Some of these are Google, Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter among many others are considered as popular social media platforms. For this purpose, the government continues to censor the flow of information to ensure its subject does not experience social vices that might cause the collapse of the existing social order.
Some of the changes like this censorship may not impress the visitors, but then, some censorship rules are supposed to be understood and complied with. It is understood that when improper precautions are taken to gain access to banned sites then trouble can occur and sometimes attention is sought.
II. Can I Use Google, Facebook in China?
Unfortunately, the straightforward answer is no. Google, Facebook, and many other western based website and services are currently banned in mainland China. What this implies is that when one tries to address them at this level, they reach a dead end or come across a ‘message of the day.’
The Chinese government censors the internet within its jurisdiction and using these banned sites might be difficult sans the right tools or methods. At the same time, it is far from pointless to adhere to these restrictions and consider other ways by which a person can communicate in China.
III. How to Use Google, Facebook in China without VPN
As of now, VPN is still the safest and most effective solution to avoid a Great Firewall; however, there are some ways to try if you have no access to VPN. But it should be noted that VPNs won’t always be effective, nor will not provide the same levels of security and privacy as a VPN.
Method 1: Using a Proxy Server
By its essence, a proxy server helps you unblock access to a particular website, by relaying your connection request through a server in another physical location. Some proxy servers that have been known to work in China include:
- ProxySite.com
- KProxy
- HideMyAss
But, it is important to note, that the use of proxy servers can be much slower, compared to VPN and provide rather limited security, as such a server does not encrypt your traffic.
Method 2: Utilizing the Tor Network
Tor is an uncensored Internet ecosystem available to everyone as free and open-source software that let you communicate anonymously. It bounces your internet connection through multiple of volunteer-run computers making it exceedingly hard to monitor your activity online. Actually, Tor is quite helpful for you to connect to the websites blocked in China, yet, you are supposed to know that it may be quite slow for use and not all tasks, such as streaming, can be done using it.
Method 3: Leveraging Alternative Platforms and Services
If you mostly need to browse or communicate with friends, you should switch to other sites and services that are unavailable in China. Some options include:
- Search Engines: Baidu, Sogou, 360 Search
- Social Media: WeChat, Weibo, QQ
- Messaging Apps: Telegram, Signal
These platforms are similar to those found within the West and are present in China.
IV. Essential Tips for Staying Connected in China
In dealing with China’s internet, one must learn to expect the unexpected and to be more prepared than you have to be. Here are some essential tips to help you stay connected during your travels:
- Pre-Trip Preparation: It is advisable to download necessary applications (maps, translator, and others) and content as many of them will be blocked in China. Nowadays, try to get acquainted with other platforms and services. Share the possibility of communication difficulties with people close to you.
- On-the-Ground Strategies: If a traveler has some use for the Internet and cannot rent a local SIM card, they should buy one with a data package that offers the simplest connectivity. Avoid posting anything that is related to the following: politics, religion, economics. Be very careful when connecting to public WLANs, while you might want to use a VPN occasionally to have access to restricted and blocked sites.
This way, you can remain plugged in and up to date during your China trip if you already have a rough plan on how to handle the local digital landscape with its many possibilities.
V. VPN for China: Top 5 Options
It can be very challenging to determine the right VPN for China. Every day, officials of China are improving the Great Firewall and not all VPNs are capable of avoiding restrictions set by Chinese authorities. The above table summarizes five best VPN service providers that have always proved their capability of unblocking China censorship.
| VPN Provider | Server Locations Near China | Strong Encryption | Obfuscation Technology | No-Logs Policy | Speed and Performance | Ease of Use | Customer Support | Additional Features |
| ExpressVPN | Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, Taiwan, South Korea | AES-256 | Yes | Strict no-logs policy | Consistently fast speeds | User-friendly apps for all major platforms | 24/7 live chat and email support | Split tunneling, kill switch, MediaStreamer for streaming |
| NordVPN | Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, Taiwan, South Korea | AES-256 | Yes, with obfuscated servers | Strict no-logs policy | Fast speeds, especially on nearby servers | Intuitive apps and browser extensions | 24/7 live chat and email support | Double VPN, CyberSec for ad blocking and malware protection |
| Surfshark | Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, Taiwan, South Korea, India | AES-256 | Yes, with NoBorders mode | Strict no-logs policy | Good speeds, unlimited simultaneous connections | Clean and simple apps | 24/7 live chat and email support | CleanWeb for ad blocking and malware protection, Whitelister for split tunneling |
| VyprVPN | Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, Taiwan, South Korea | AES-256 | Yes, with Chameleon protocol | Independently audited no-logs policy | Decent speeds, optimized for China | User-friendly apps | 24/7 live chat and email support | Chameleon protocol for bypassing censorship, VyprDNS for enhanced security |
| Private Internet Access | Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, Taiwan, South Korea | AES-256 | Yes, with Shadowsocks proxy | Strict no-logs policy | Fast speeds, especially on nearby servers | Customizable apps for advanced users | 24/7 live chat and email support | MACE for ad blocking and malware protection, port forwarding |
In this case, the general advice that applies to China might change over time but the underlying principle remains the same. The availability of a suitable provider should critically be supported by looking at its performance, security, and technical support. By purchasing a reliable VPN, one can expect a reliable and secure connection while traveling in China.
VI. Best VPN in China – How to Install
Choosing a VPN is not where it ends, it is just the beginning. Therefore, it should be installed and set up before its use in China since after entering the country, many of the VPN websites and app stores may be unreachable.
The process is typically straightforward:
- Select a provider from our list above or look for others on your own.
- Subscribe to a suitable plan.
- Visit your VPN vendor’s website and acquire an application that is compatible with your device.
- Go to the service, choose a server that is geographically close to China for instance, Hong Kong, and then activate any option that will disguise the connection.
- Activate the kill switch for added security.
- Create a VPN and get back a chance to use the Internet without limitations!
Always check your VPN before traveling and if something is wrong, you should contact the customer support service.
VII. Beyond VPNs: Embracing the eSIM Advantage
VPNs are one of the oldest and most reliable techniques to enable people in China to access content that is blocked by The Great Firewall. If you prefer less complicated Means of maintaining connectivity without the fuss of quite technical VPN arrangements, then China eSIM could well be your travel buddy.
- Wide Range of Plans: They have more plans which range from 5 days to 30 days with 1GB to 20GB data depending on the user’s needs and his/her pocket.
- Reliable Network Coverage: They connect to China Unicom and China Mobile networks, so you’ll have a great signal and fast 4G LTE at all times on your trip to China.
- Instant Connectivity: You can switch on your eSIM over a few minutes after arriving in China which will save you the hassle of looking for a local vendor where you have to go through a lot of procedures.
- Competitive Pricing: At Chinaesim.com, this is accompanied by Competitive pricing structures which do not have any concealed charges throughout the value-adding process.
- VPN Included Options: They also have eSIM plans, including a VPN it, for people worried about being connected to blocked sites and services.
- 24/7 Customer Support: Thanks to their trained customer support team, you will always receive the necessary help in case of any problems you might face.
ChinaeSIM.com helps you to have internet access in China without using SIM cards, and the complications of VPN. Keep in touch with loved ones, use your social networking applications, make orders, find your location, and much more – all these are available while marveling at China.
You can refer to China eSIM packages via the following link.
- All Plans
- Local
- Multi Countries
China eSIM 3GB total - 5 days
China eSIM 3GB total - 5 days
3GB
China eSIM 10GB total - 5 days
China eSIM 10GB total - 5 days
10GB
China eSIM 5GB total - 7 days
China eSIM 5GB total - 7 days
5GB
China eSIM 1GB/day - 7 days
China eSIM 1GB/day - 7 days
1GB/day
China eSIM 10GB total - 10 days
China eSIM 10GB total - 10 days
10GB
China eSIM 3GB/days - 15 days
China eSIM 3GB/days - 15 days
3GB/day
China eSIM 20GB total - 30 days
China eSIM 20GB total - 30 days
20GB
Greater China eSIM 10GB total - 10 days
Greater China eSIM 10GB total - 10 days
10GB
Greater China eSIM 4GB/day - 15 days
Greater China eSIM 4GB/day - 15 days
4GB/day
China Vietnam eSIM 8GB total - 7 days
China Vietnam eSIM 8GB total - 7 days
8GB
VIII. Conclusion
Searching for content and different platforms like Google and Facebook in China as is realized by the Great Firewall has its own peculiarities. Thus, it is still safe to say that even when VPN remains a potential solution, searching for an alternative or accepting the benefits of eSIMs can be helpful. Knowing these constraints, as well as learning how to measure your options and take all the essential precautions, you can keep in touch with the outside world during your time in China.sao