Best VPN for Travel to China

Did you know that the Internet in China is very different from the one we’re familiar with? Some of the most popular websites and apps, including Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, WhatsApp, and even Wikipedia, aren’t available there because of the strict online censorship policy. And these limitations affect not only local people, but also tourists and temporary residents. 

The good news is that a virtual private network (VPN) can handle this challenge and help you access the desired online content when visiting China. And the bad news? Very few VPN services can effectively overcome the Great Firewall. Read this article to learn how to pick and use the best VPN for traveling to China.      

Do you need a VPN for traveling to China?

China tops the list of countries with the highest level of Internet censorship. Its approach to limiting online content is known as the Great Firewall. And according to the latest Freedom House report, the Chinese government’s grip on the Internet is getting tighter and tighter every year. In particular, online restrictions involve obstacles to Internet access, limits on content, and violation of user rights. 

As a result, the Internet there works differently than in other parts of the world. Almost every popular website or platform has an analog on the Chinese web. However, these alternative sites are mainly designed for local users and are strictly monitored by the government. So if you want to keep surfing the web freely and privately when visiting China, a virtual private network (VPN) is the number one solution.  

Now, let’s see what difficulties you may face when surfing the Internet in China and how a VPN can help. 

How Chinese government limits online content

As mentioned above, the Chinese government uses the Great Firewall, also known as the Golden Shield Project, to limit Internet freedom inside the country. It’s a set of technologies that block access to certain websites and regulate cross-border Internet traffic. Some of the main objectives of such strict limitations are to control society, ban sensitive content, and protect the country’s economy. 

Online censors and Internet service providers use various techniques to prevent people from visiting banned websites and apps. Let’s look at some of China’s most widespread methods of limiting access to online content.

1. IP address blocking. Internet service providers (ISPs) block access to the IP addresses of banned websites. 
2. Spoofed DNS. If a DNS address of a website is reconfigured, users are redirected to other websites or get an error message. 
3. Deep packet inspection. This technique allows censors to process data sent over a computer network and alert, block, or redirect your traffic.
4. Keyword filtering. Users’ access to websites is limited with the help of keywords associated with censored content. Pages that contain specific keywords won’t appear in your search results.

Which content is unavailable in China

The Chinese government has banned most websites and apps that are popular in other countries, including social media, instant messaging apps, email services, streaming platforms, foreign news media, and more. 

Here are some examples of web pages you won’t be able to use without a VPN when visiting China.  

• Social media (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat, Quora, Reddit, Pinterest)
• Business and productivity (Slack, Dropbox, Gmail, Google suite, Microsoft OneDrive)
• Media streaming (Netflix, YouTube, Spotify, Pandora, Soundcloud, Twitch)
• News websites (BBC, CNN, New York Times, Financial Times, Reuters, TIME)
• Messaging and video call apps (WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, Signal, Telegram, Viber, Skype, Google Hangouts)
• Search engines and platforms (Google, Amazon, Wikipedia, DuckDuckGo, Tor)

Using a VPN with a China server will allow you to communicate, work, read news, and enjoy your favorite content when visiting this country. Let’s see how it works. 

How VPN helps access limited content

A virtual private network encrypts your traffic and runs it through a remote server. It spoofs your IP address and makes it impossible for censors, snoopers, and ISPs to track your actual location. As a result, they cannot see what you’re up to and which websites you’re visiting.

A VPN doesn’t only provide online freedom but also enhances your privacy and security when surfing the web. For instance, VeePN provides powerful AES-256 encryption to hide your traffic from prying eyes. It also protects your browsing activities and helps avoid online scams, viruses, and other cyber threats. So if you strive for anonymous and safe browsing wherever you are, it’s always better to have your VPN turned on.

But what about the legal aspects of using a VPN in China? Is it allowed, and can you get in trouble if having a virtual private network on your device? Let’s clear things up.

Is using a VPN illegal in China?

The short answer is no. You can legally use a virtual private network in China. However, there are several pitfalls you’d better keep in mind. 

First, many VPN providers are banned in China, so some services will not work there. Such firm restrictions on VPN usage mainly concern businesses and organizations. As for individuals, there is no clear law that would forbid all VPNs in China. Moreover, some VPNs are legalized by the government. But using them may put your privacy at risk since such services may reveal information regarding your browsing activities.

And second, can a tourist use VPN in China? Well, in most cases, strict limitations aren’t applied to country visitors. However, considering China’s sky-high level of Internet censorship, one should still be cautious when using a VPN.

VeePN is the VPN service not intended to be used for conducting any illegal acts. Please remember to check whether there are any restrictions in your particular country before doing anything potentially questionable. Please be informed that if some action is illegal without using a VPN, it will also be illegal with its use.

What is the best VPN to use in China?

When visiting a country like China, with so many online limits and privacy pitfalls, a VPN becomes your key to the free Internet. However, not every key will unlock that door. That’s why it’s crucial to choose a reputable VPN service provider that offers a sufficient number of servers you can connect to. Also, note that free VPNs aren’t reliable enough and may fail to provide you with the required encryption protocols. As a result, they won’t let you bypass all possible blocks.   

Besides, it’s worth paying attention to the solutions that do not compromise the connection speed. Otherwise, you will have to forget about gaming and streaming media in China.

Here are several tips on how to choose a VPN that works in China. 

• Verify the service’s reputation. Choose a trustworthy VPN service provider with good reviews, available apps for all major operating systems, a convenient interface, and 24/7 customer support. 
• Prioritize the number of servers. You should have a good choice of servers across the globe. Note that some of them may not work in China. In this case, you will need to try a couple of different locations. 
• Verify connection speed. Since your data moves through an encrypted tunnel, the connection speed may be slower with a VPN. However, this difference is hardly noticeable when using a powerful VPN like VeePN.
• Consider security and privacy features. A reliable VPN should offer AES-256 encryption and several additional protocols. Also, pay attention to the quality of other security and privacy features it includes. 
• Make sure of a transparent No Logs policy. The chosen VPN service shouldn’t collect and use your private data. 
• Avoid free and fake VPNs. As mentioned above, most free VPNs aren’t powerful enough to ensure your online freedom when traveling to China. Moreover, some of them are fake apps striving to compromise your cybersecurity.

Using a VPN in China: a step-by-step guide

A convenient and user-friendly VPN app like VeePN can be installed on any preferred device and works with all major operating systems, including macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, and Android. Follow the steps below to install VeePN and start using it when going to China.

1. Choose the preferred pricing plan that suits your needs best.
   
2. Download and install VeePN app on your device

3. Select a VPN server in the preferred location

4. Turn VPN on and enjoy the desired content 

How to troubleshoot VPN connection

Sometimes, even after you’ve turned your VPN on, you may still find it challenging to access the content you need. It means that the VPN connection has been blocked. And unfortunately, it happens quite often in China. Moreover, blocks against VPN services vary from region to region. 

Luckily, there are several effective ways to bypass those limitations.

1. Choose another server. Servers associated with virtual private networks can be blacklisted by censors. However, while some of them don’t work, others probably will. 
2. Change your connection protocol. VeePN offers several encryption protocols, including WireGuard, Open VPN, and IKEv2/IPSec. You can change the protocol in your app’s settings and try accessing the desired website once again.

3. Clear your browser data and cookies. You can also restart your browser or try another one. 

Also, note that VPN blocks are not your only problem. Sadly, the VPN connection sometimes fails during the session. At this moment, your browsing activities become visible to third parties, and your access to some websites may be denied. However, you won’t have to worry about it with VeePN. It has the Kill Switch feature that blocks the Internet access when your VPN connection is down, which helps preserve your privacy at all times.

Looking for a VPN that works in China? – Try VeePN!

China has the most significant limitations of Internet freedom worldwide. So when traveling to this country, you will find it challenging to visit the desired websites, communicate with friends and relatives, and stream media. The best way to avoid censorship and access the free Internet is through a powerful VPN tool. But you need to choose it wisely and pay attention to the selected service’s credibility, connection speed, number of available servers, and offered security features. 

Need such a solution? Look no further! VeePN is your best bet. It’s a trustworthy VPN service with over 2,500 servers across 89 locations in 60 countries worldwide. VeePN will allow you to browse freely and securely in China without compromising your privacy and connection speed. Try VPN now and get a 100% money-back guarantee!

FAQ

Does VPN work in China?

Yes! A premium VPN works in China. It will help you gain access to the free Internet when visiting China. A virtual private network will encrypt your traffic and allow you to access the desired content privately and securely. Read this article to learn more about using a VPN in China. 

Is VPN allowed in China?

All in all, using a VPN is legal in China. However, the government has banned many VPN service providers, so their websites are unavailable in the country. We recommend downloading a VPN app on your device before you go to China and being cautious when using it in the country. Also, note that some VPNs legalized by the Chinese government may compromise your online privacy.

Which VPN can break the China firewall?

China has strict online freedom limitations, and not every VPN can handle the Great Firewall blocks. So when choosing a VPN for traveling to China, prioritize services with a good reputation, high connection speed, sufficient number of servers, powerful security features, and transparent No Logs policy. We recommend considering VeePN as the most secure VPN for China. 

Written by VeePN Research Lab VeePN Research Lab is dedicated to provide you latest posts about internet security and privacy.

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