Latest important information

VPNs continue to provide access to websites blocked in China Despite the rumors, VPNs continue to be the best way to get around the Great Firewall of China. Nonetheless, due to an intense campaign during the second half of 2017, many VPNs have stopped working or their services have been affected substantially. In this article, which we update monthly, you will be able to see which VPNs continue to work in China.

Zoom is blocked in China As a response to the commercial tensions with the US, in September 2019 Zoom services were restricted to users in China. It seems that this block is going to be permanent as many other similar western services.

Currently, WhatsApp does’t work in China Since September 2017, WhatsApp has been almost completely blocked in China. Currently, without using a VPN, you can’t send or receive voice messages, videos, images, or any other types of files. Text messages are sometimes capable of getting around the restrictions, but they can arrive hours late.

Skype continues to work in China In December 2017, the Skype app disappeared from the App Store and other app markets in China. Even so, Skype has never stopped working in China.

VPN apps for Apple are not blocked in China The apps have not been blocked. Even so, the App Store has blocked downloading these apps for users who are located in China, which means that you will not be able to download the apps or update them unless you have a VPN active on your phone (manually configured or by downloading the app in advance).

Google maps is still blocked in China

Some news pointed to the possibility that China may release the block to Google Maps for users in Mainland. However, at the present moment, Google Maps is unavailable in Some news pointed to the possibility that China may release the block to Google Maps for users in Mainland. However, at the present moment, Google Maps is unavailable in China without a VPN

´

You probably already know that sites such as Facebook, Youtube, or Google.com are blocked in China and that the only way to access them is with a VPN.

But what about the other hundreds of web sites that we normally use?

Are we sure that they’ll work in China?

One of the most frequent questions we receive is if a certain website or app, such as Dropbox Google Play, is blocked in China.

In this article we’ll list all web sites, which at the moment, don’t work beyond the Great Firewall of China, or the system developed by the Ministry of Public Security, (MPS) to control access to websites considered “dangerous” for Chinese citizens.

Websites blocked in China

Here’s a list of the most popular websites which, at the moment, are blocked in China:

Social

Facebook

Twitter

Instagram

Pinterest

Snapchat

Quora

Tumblr

Picasa

WordPress.com

Blogspot

Blogger

Medium

Flickr

SoundCloud

Google Hangouts

Hootsuite

Badoo

Disqus

Tinder

Github

Apps

Google Play (without a VPN you won’t be able to download any app)

Whatsapp

Messenger

Viber

Telegram

Line

Periscope

KaKao Talk

Discord

Search Engines

Google (both Google.com and local versions like Google.com.hk, Google.fr, etcetera)

Ask.com

Duck Duck Go

Yahoo

Various foreign versions of Baidu

Video Sharing

Youtube

TikTok

Vimeo

Daily Motion

Nico Video

Media

The New York Times

Finacial Times

The Wall Street Journal

The Economist

Bloomberg

Reuters

the Washington Post

South China Morning Post

The Independent

Daily Mail

LeMonde

L’Equipe

Google News

Many pages of Wikipedia

Wikileaks

Streaming Platforms

Netflix (no service, website accessible)

Amazon Prime Video

Hulu (no service, website accessible)

Twitch

BBC iPlayer

Spotify

SoundCloud

Pandora Radio

Some local versions of HBO, Fox and Syfy

NBC

Playstation

Email providers and Work Tools

Gmail

Google Drive

Google Docs

Google Calendar

Generally all Google services

Zoom

Dropbox

ShutterStock

Slideshare

Slack

iStockPhotos

WayBackMachine

Scribd

Xing

Android

Most of VPN websites

Adult Websites

Adult websites are almost all blocked; I don’t know of any exceptions.

Websites and apps that AREN’T blocked in China

Below is a non-exhaustive list of websites and apps that are popular in the West that haven’t yet been blocked in China:

Calls and Video Calls

FaceTime

Skype (not very reliable)

Social

Linkedin

WeChat

Douyin

Instant Messaging

iMessage

WeChat

Streaming Platforms HBO Asia (sometimes it has been blocked temporarily)

Vevo Search Engines Bing

Baidu

Yandex Email providers and Work Tools Yahoo mail

Hotmail

WeTransfer What can you tell me about Chinese sites?

Chinese sites, in general, all work and are extremely fast. Note that, if you’re using a VPN, some Chinese sites will not work correctly (for example many of the videos on Youku won’t be available). This is caused by the fact that some sites work only in China and, by turning on a VPN, you are “masking” your Chinese IP address with that of another country.

How to know if a website is blocked in China?

The list published in this article is not exhaustive and bear in mind that the situation is constantly changing – a site that’s blocked today could work tomorrow – as well as just the opposite – a site that works today could stop working within twenty minutes.

To verify if a given website is blocked just insert the URL in Comparitech or the Greatfire Analyzer.

Besides, some sites are partially blocked (on Wikipedia, for example, some pages work perfectly while others don’t work at all), sites that go on and off, and sites that despite not being blocked, are so slow that in a practical sense they’re unusable. The classic example is making video-calls on Skype: the connection is often so slow that you’ll want to skip the call.

Is there a solution to access blocked websites in China?

The easiest and most popular solution is to subscribe to a VPN service (here you’ll find the services we currently recommend).

Note however that, especially after 8 PM (Beijing time) sites hosted by servers outside of China (basically all Western sites), are often so slow as to be unusable. I’m not sure as to the reason why, but my theory is that this is the hour in which traffic between China and the West reaches its height (since it’s morning in America afternoon in Europe).

As a result, the data lines are maxed out and say goodbye to your connection! I don’t even know if the problem is a result of the Great Firewall or, more simply, a physical limit between China and the rest of the planet.

Is it legal to use a VPN?

Disclaimer: here at SDC we are not qualified to give any legal advice; therefore if you choose to use a VPN you are doing so at your own risk.

That said, our interpretation is that using a VPN (an acronym for Virtual Private Network) is not an illegal act in and of itself since it has to do with a technology developed to extend the benefits of private networks even to connections that travel on the Internet (or on a public network).

The VPN is, therefore, software designed to improve the security of your connection (click here to learn the technical details). In effect, many universities and – I presume – Chinese government offices use a VPN system to isolate their internal network from the public.

So the problem isn’t so much the use of a VPN, as much as the fact that you’re accessing sites that aren’t permitted in China. Is that a crime? The reality is that we have no idea and therefore can’t offer any advice.

On a practical level, our opinion is that the Chinese couldn’t care less if you use a VPN to log on to your Facebook profile or your Dropbox.

Of course, if you intend to use the Internet fraudulently, VPN or not, be aware that you’re taking a risk both in China and abroad.

Is it true that all VPN access has been blocked

This information, published by Bloomberg in 2017 and originating from an unknown source, was quite doubtful at the time and was quickly debunked by the Chinese Ministry of Industry.

China indeed started a campaign to limit VPN use in 2017, which reached its peak in 2018, but it was mainly focused on companies with headquarters in China, such as GreenVPN. Despite one-time attacks, this campaign was not extended to all VPNs, probably for two main reasons: technically speaking, it’s difficult to be able to block access to the global network, and because this could severely affect the Chinese economy (many small businesses and individuals depend on this type of service for their business activities).

In 2017 and 2018, many VPNs stopped working or their performance was seriously affected. During the following years, periodic campaigns of increased restrictions have been taking place, reducing the functionality of many VPNs. However, some well-known VPN services (such as those we recommend in this article) continue to work well, and it is unlikely that they will stop working. These types of campaigns have been common over the years, especially around important political or social events (the Olympic Games, party congresses, etc.).

Other frequently-asked questions

What social media are blocked in China? The majority of Western social networks are blocked in China , including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, YouTube and many others. In China, there are multiple local social networks, and the most popular one is currently WeChat. Is WhatsApp blocked in China? Since September 2017 WhatsApp has been almost completely blocked in China. While sending voice messages, images or making video calls is only possible using a system like a VPN , text messages sometimes are able to get through the blockage. Other instant messaging apps like FB Messenger, Line, Telegram, or Viber are also blocked in China. The only exceptions are the Chinese apps WeChat or Weixin. Is Skype blocked in China? Currently, Skype continues to work in China , although often the quality of voice and video calls is quite poor, and these calls may be monitored by third parties. A VPN can help you to improve the quality of Skype’s services and avoid being spied on. In addition, the Skype app cannot be downloaded in China unless you have a VPN. Is Instagram blocked in China? The majority of Western social networks such as Instagram are blocked in China, which means that if you want to continue to post your photos on Instagram or see the updates of the people you are following, your only option is to use a VPN or similar service. Are iTunes and the App Store blocked in China? Although iTunes and the App Store are not blocked in China, a large amount of their content is filtered and therefore not available. In addition, every once in a while, they stop working for an indefinite period of time, which is very annoying if you don’t have a system to get around blocking. How can I access Google in China? a href=”https://www.saporedicina.com/english/unblock-google-china/” target=”_blank” rel=”noopener noreferrer”>Google and all of its services (Gmail, Google Play and Google+) are blocked in China, and you won’t be able to access them unless you have some way to get around the Great Firewall. Currently, VPNs continue to be the best solution. Are Yahoo and Yahoo email blocked in China? While Yahoo’s website and Yahoo Mail are still accessible, Yahoo’s search engine (search.yahoo.com) has not been accessible in China since September 2018. Is Pinterest blocked in China? As of March 2017, like with other social networks, Pinterest is not accessible in China unless you use a system to get around the Great Firewall of China, such as a VPN. Is LinkedIn banned in China? For the time being, LinkedIn is not blocked in China and tends to work without too many problems. Nonetheless, keep in mind that websites hosted outside of China normally load slowly. Is Snapchat allowed in China? Just like other social networks such as Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, or Instagram, Snapchat is blocked in China . Therefore, if you want to use Snapchat during your stay in China, you will have to have a VPN service to be able to use it. Is Dropbox blocked in China? Why? Yes. Currently, Dropbox can’t be accessed in China without a VPN. If you have Dropbox installed on your computer, synchronization won’t work either until you connect your VPN. The reason for the blocking is probably a business reason so that preference is given to local cloud storage systems. Can I use Facetime in China? Facetime can be used in China without problems. Even so, just like what happens with Skype over certain connections, its performance is far from optimal. Does Viber work in China? Since 2014, Viber, like many other similar services, is blocked in China. Therefore, your only option to access the services of Viber without restrictions during your stay in China is to acquire a service that allows you to get around blocking, such as the VPNs. Is Quora blocked in China? Since August 2018, Quora has been inaccessible from China without using a system to get around the Great Firewall, such as a VPN. Not all other similar question-answer services are blocked in China. While Yahoo Answers and Stack Exchange are still accessible, AskReddit and Answers.com are blocked. Is my website blocked in China? Many websites are blocked daily by the Great Firewall. To find out if your website is being blocked for users connecting from China, you can check out this website . You also have to remember that if you have a blog on the free services WordPress or Blogspot, your blog won’t be accessible in China Why my website is blocked in China and what to do? The Great Firewall blocks websites that may contain sensitive content. The problem is that the blocking is carried out on the IP address level, and sometimes websites that shouldn’t be blocked due to their content are blocked due to the content of the sites with which they share a server. If your website has been blocked for this reason, the best solution is for you to get a dedicated IP address from your hosting provider. What are the alternatives to Facebook in China? Renren.com (人人 网). Nonetheless, over the past years, this website has progressively lost its popularity, and currently very few people use it. Currently, the app-within-an-app model called WeChat is much more popular, and in addition to other services, it offers a mobile platform that is very similar to Facebook. In China, the alternative most similar to Facebook is. Nonetheless, over the past years, this website has progressively lost its popularity, and currently very few people use it. Currently, the app-within-an-app model calledis much more popular, and in addition to other services, it offers a mobile platform that is very similar to Facebook. What are the alternatives to Twitter in China? The microblogging platform similar to Twitter in China is Weibo.com (微博). Nonetheless, as has happened with other “social networks,” Weibo has lost a lot of popularity over the past years due to the appearance of Wechat. What are the alternatives to Youtube in China? In China, there are multiple alternatives to YouTube, with the most popular ones being Tudou, Youku, Tencent video and iQIYI. In any event, all of these platforms are grouped on Baidu video (百度视频). What are the alternatives to Instagram in China? There are multiple photo sharing websites and apps in China, but for the time being, none of them have become very popular. One of the most popular is Nice, but for the moment, it only has 12 million active users, which is far below WeChat’s 500 million users. What search engine to use in china? In China, the most used search engine without doubt is baidu.com (百度). Even so, other search engines such as Yahoo or Bing can be used, although the results will be filtered through the Great Firewall. Unless you want to look up websites in Chinese, for which Baidu is a good option, using a VPN will be the only way to really find what you are looking for (without filters or restrictions).

What are the best VPNs for China?









What’s the Best?

Features What’s the Best? Main Advantage Fastest and Easiest to Use Most Secure Cheapest(among the best) Dedicated IPs It depends on your needs! Money Back Guarantee 30 days 30 days 30 days 30 days Monthly Plan 12.95 USD 12.95 USD 9.95 USD 11.95 USD Yearly Plan 6.67 USD/month(exclusive offer: 3 months free) 3.75 USD/month 3.33 USD/month 6.99 USD/month Support 24/7/365(Best service in our experience) 24/7/365 24/7/365 24/7/365 Server Count 1.700+ 700+ 1,000+ 1.432 Countries with Servers 94 64 56 61 Payment Methods Credit Card, Paypal, Bitcoin, Alipay, Union Pay and others Credit Card, Paypal and Alipay Credit Card, Paypal, Bitpay, Alipay, Perfect Money Credit Card, Paypal, Bitcoin, Alipay Desktop Apps Windows, Mac, Linux Windows, Mac Windows, Mac Windows, Mac Browser Extension Chrome, Firefox, Safari No Chrome, Firefox Chrome Mobile Apps Android, iOS, Windows Phone Android, iOS, Windows Phone, Blackphone Android, iOS, Windows Phone Android, iOS, Windows Phone Simultaneous Connections Yes (until 5) Yes (until 5) Yes (until 5) Yes (until 6) Encryption Protocols OpenVPN, L2TP-IPsec, SSTP, PPTP PPTP, OpenVPN™, L2TP/IPsec, Chameleon™ OpenVPN, IKEv2, PPTP, SSTP, L2TP OpenVPN, IKEv2/IPsec VPN Location’s Switchings Unlimited Unlimited Unlimited Unlimited Languages Supported 16 5 5 21 Try ExpressVPN ➤ Try VyprVPN ➤ Try Ivacy ➤ Try NordVPN ➤

[Photo Credits (Creative Commons CC0): Pixabay.com]