Once you’re in China, all the websites you usually use will be blocked. There are ways to use a VPN in China, but not all VPNs work there. I’ve tested 30+ VPNs and found a premium China VPN that will protect you every time you go online. My favorite VPN for China is ExpressVPN. It works consistently there and keeps your internet activities completely private. You can try ExpressVPN without any risk. It comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee. If you don’t like it, simply ask for a refund. Try ExpressVPN risk-free
Why Do You Need a VPN in China?
Within China, the government enforces strict censorship and surveillance measures over all online activities. This results in the blocking of numerous services such as Google, including the browser and its associated services, WhatsApp, Facebook, Wikipedia, Twitter, and various others. Consequently, if you solely rely on a Gmail account, you will be unable to access email services, and alternative methods of communication with family members back home are either blocked or subject to intensive monitoring. Using a VPN enables you to conveniently access your pre-paid libraries just like you would from home. It offers you privacy, shielding you from potential hackers who may have ill intentions to compromise your personal information. VPNs provide the coveted internet freedom, particularly valuable for individuals seeking unrestricted online access in China. My recommended VPN for use in China is ExpressVPN. It has global servers that easily unblock content, giving you access to your favorite websites back home. You can try it risk-free as it comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee. If you don’t like it, just claim your money back. Stay protected with ExpressVPN
How to Download and Use a VPN in China — 7 Working Methods
1. Use the Hotels
The major tourist hotels in China don’t censor their internet too heavily, and you’ll have access to the WiFi if you stay there. WiFi provided to customer rooms usually already has VPN service, so it’s possible to use the internet with some freedom. Not all the hotels offer this, but popular ones such as The Mariott, Hilton, Shangri-La, Wyndham, Starwood, Crowne Plaza, and Intercontinental do. Check with your hotel to see if they offer VPN service.
2. Use a SIM Card from Your Home Country
Using a SIM card from home makes it possible to download a VPN. Your mobile must be set to roam and, while this can be expensive, it will help you successfully download a VPN from within the country. Once installed, the switch can be made to a China SIM card.
3. Talk to a Friend
Often, people already in China already have a VPN or are willing to download files. If a friend has access to private internet, they may be able to download and install files and email them to you. Just remember, you’ll need an email account other than Gmail. Outlook should work well.
4. Visit Hong Kong
Restrictions are more relaxed in Hong Kong, so taking a trip there is another solution. Hong Kong has its issues with China’s surveillance and censorship, but it has more freedom at this point. Most travelers have plans to visit the city anyway and can pick up a VPN while there.
5. Download a .APK VPN File
China blocks VPN websites, but it’s possible to access .apk mirror sites. These files work with all Android devices. I searched for a .apk mirror site, downloaded the most up-to-date version, and installed it. The VPN worked perfectly.
6. Install a VPN Before You Arrive in China
The best option is to install and set up a VPN account before leaving for China. You just need to go to the VPN’s website, set up an account, and download the most up-to-date software directly from the comfort of home. That way, there’s no struggle to download a file while traveling.
7. Go For a VPN That Works in China
Only specific VPNs work in China, so it’s vital to choose the right one. ExpressVPN is one of the best VPNs I’ve found for China. It even offers a 30-day money-back guarantee so you can buy ExpressVPN in confidence. If you find you don’t want to keep it, you’ll get a full refund. Try ExpressVPN for China
The Best VPNs for China in 2023
1. ExpressVPN — Offers a Fast Connection to Stream Shows From Home While You’re in China
Key Features: ExpressVPN has blazing-fast speeds, so there wasn’t any irritating lag to interrupt my viewing experience. When I switched to ExpressVPN’s proprietary Lightway Protocol, I was impressed with speeds up to 102 Mbps. It is fast, but it also uses fewer resources on my computer. I thoroughly tested ExpressVPN while browsing, gaming, downloading, and streaming and found myself impressed by its speeds. If you want to watch your Netflix US library on the subscription you’ve already paid for, it’s great at bypassing the blocks and getting you straight into your account. Privacy is essential, and ExpressVPN runs its own encrypted DNS on each server. It keeps you safe from DNS leaks, and no one can see what you’re doing when you’re browsing. Your information stays private because ExpressVPN is the only one reading your DNS requests, and each server is wiped clean every night so governments or other entities can’t get a hold of your data. With a network lock kill switch, ExpressVPN shuts down my internet connection if the VPN disconnects. This way, none of my identifiable information gets out to the web. Governments and my ISP can’t see my IP address and track me down. If I get disconnected in China, I won’t be blocked from starting up the VPN again as the authorities won’t be aware I was ever connected to one in the first place. ExpressVPN may seem expensive if you look at the monthly plan, but I found a 49% discount where you can get a 1-year year plan for $6.67 a month. ExpressVPN’s longer-term plans are affordable and keep you protected. The premium features of ExpressVPN make it the top VPN you can choose. You can try out ExpressVPN totally risk-free as it’s backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee — if you don’t like it, just ask for a refund. I tried it, and it was easy. The support engineer put my refund through immediately, and I had the money back in 3 days.
Try ExpressVPN risk-free in China
2. PrivateVPN — Perfect Forward Secrecy to Keep Your Activities in China Private
Key Features: PrivateVPN uses Stealth VPN technology that can get past VPN blocks, making it seem as though you’re using a normal server. This is helpful when I’m traveling in China and dealing with sites that have anti-VPN technology. Perfect Forward Secrecy is a security feature that changes the encryption keys on PrivateVPN’s servers regularly, so no one can see what you’re doing online. This makes it virtually impossible for a computer to hack into my activities while I’m traveling. It’s especially helpful on public WiFi, where there’s no protection. I tested PrivateVPN fully to see how good its protection was, and found no DNS or data leaks on any of its servers. If it’s the speed you want, the HQN (or high-quality Network) servers that it manages in-house are designed to boost speeds. With this superior connection, you have better video and audio streaming. That also means lower latency, which is the amount of time a packet of data travels from your device to the server, preventing lag and other slowdowns while you catch up on your favorite shows in China. PrivateVPN is fast and one of the cheapest monthly VPNs, but it doesn’t have malware protection or split tunneling abilities. You can get it for $2.00/month on a 3-year-year plan. PrivateVPN still has many features going for it, and it works in China. You can try PrivateVPN with its 30-day money-back guarantee with no risk to you. If it doesn’t work, you can ask for a refund on its support chat. I did, and the support engineer processed my refund quickly. The money was back in my account in a matter of days. Try PrivateVPN risk-free in China
3. VyprVPN — Chameleon Protocol Keeps the Internet Free and Open While You Travel in China
Key Features: VyprVPN’s proprietary Chameleon protocol easily gives access to your usual online services from China. Its server tunnel technology is based on the OpenVPN protocol but prevents deep-packet inspection by governments, corporate entities, or ISPs. Chameleon helps you stream, access websites, and social media while you’re in China — without sacrificing security. The VPN owns its servers and hardware, so no third party will ever see your data. Like ExpressVPN, it also has a no-logs policy, so it doesn’t share your information with governments or businesses. It’s also based in Switzerland, which has favorable privacy laws. When I examined its servers thoroughly to find out about its security and other abilities, VyprVPN produced great results in all areas of testing. It’s a blazing-fast VPN, and you can watch your usual shows from your home country while you travel in China. VyprVPN has local servers in Hong Kong, so if you were using it in China, there is a connection close by so your data wouldn’t have to travel too far, preventing stuttering. Its upgraded server network gave me speeds of around 30 Mbps, so you should be able to enjoy streaming in China without buffering. You can try VyprVPN completely risk-free with its 30 money-back guarantee. If it doesn’t work out for you, you can ask for a refund through support. The support agent was friendly and helpful. After I explained I no longer needed the VPN, I got a full refund in 4 days. Try VyprVPN risk-free in China VyprVPN unblocks: Netflix, Vudu, BBC iPlayer, HBO Max, YouTube TV, and more.
Quick Guide: 3 Easy Steps to Use a VPN in China
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How to Choose the Top VPN for China
My choice of VPN for China is based on criteria like nearby servers, no-log policies, and encryption. I thoroughly examined over a dozen VPNs to find the best, and each of the VPNs in my list have all of these strengths:
VPN global servers network — For use in China, your VPN needs a server nearby to get a connection. All of these VPNs have Hong Kong servers, plus a vast global network so you can connect to your favorite websites back home. Fast Speeds — To stream video without annoying interruptions, a VPN must have a high-speed network. I checked all three VPNs and confirmed fast speeds. While being in China will slow you down some, it will be minimal. Strong security — In China, you will need the tightest security to keep you safe. Each of these VPNs features military-grade AES 256-bit encryption and an auto-kill switch in case your VPN drops its connection. You’re also covered by DNS leak protection, so none of your information can be seen by prying eyes. Strict no-logs policy — No VPN should ever keep a record of your activities or connection online. The VPNs in this article have nothing to turn over to any government or entity should they come looking for information on you. Money-back guarantee — You should be able to try your VPN without risk, and then if it’s not right for you, get a refund. Every VPN listed here has a money-back guarantee.
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Warning: These Popular VPNs Don’t Work in China Anymore (Tested 2023)
My team and I have tested the following VPNs, and they don’t work in China:
NordVPN SurfShark VPN TunnelBear VPN Windscribe
If you mistakenly downloaded one thinking it would work for you, I suggest you try ExpressVPN totally risk-free with its 30-day money-back guarantee, as it’s proven to work in China. If you don’t like it, you can always get your money back. Stay safe from hackers with ExpressVPN
Connect to a different server Choose a different protocol in the VPN settings Use port 433 in the VPN settings Update the VPN software Contact support through email (Not Gmail)
Even the best totally free VPNs often log data and sell it to governments, advertisers, and corporations. Unlike freemium VPNs, completely free VPNs aren’t secure. Malicious entities can steal your identity and cause you financial and legal problems. You’re better off sticking to a quality VPN that protects your privacy.
Choose the Right VPN for China
When using a VPN in China, it’s best to choose one with premium security, privacy, and speed. That way, if you want to stream TV or just connect with friends, you’re covered on all sides. It’s important not to break the law and make sure you’re always protected, just in case. ExpressVPN is the best option for travelers who want to access the internet while they travel to China. With its top-tier encryption and blazing-fast speeds, you’ll be able to access content from your home country in no time. You can even try out ExpressVPN for yourself risk-free. If it doesn’t work out for you, you can ask for a refund in the 30-day money-back guarantee period. It only takes a quick visit to ExpressVPN’s live support chat to process your refund. I had my money back in just 3 days.
