Last updated on April 23, 2026 by Shannon
I feared entering China—and not because I didn’t think they’d let me in. My visa was expensive (US $150), but easy to obtain.
It was the internet.
Back when I first visited, everything I read focused on China’s “Great Firewall”—how the government blocks access to huge parts of the internet. And for me, that wasn’t theoretical. I’d been working remotely since 2008. If I couldn’t access my clients’ sites, I couldn’t work.
So the question wasn’t if I needed a VPN—it was which one actually works, and how you avoid getting stuck offline.
The Quick Answer (If You Don’t Want to Read Everything)
- You need a VPN to access most of the internet in China
- Install it before you arrive (this matters more than anything else)
- Free VPNs are unreliable at best
- I use NordVPN—it’s been the most consistent option across countries
That’s the short version. If you rely on Google, email, or social media, assume you’ll need a VPN—and install it before you land. That’s the only step you can’t fix later.
What’s Actually Blocked in China (2026 Reality)
China’s firewall is still very real—and still inconsistent.
- Google (including Gmail, Docs, Maps)
- Instagram, Facebook, WhatsApp
- Many Western news sites
Sometimes blocked or inconsistent:
- Email services
- Cloud tools
- Travel planning sites
And here’s the frustrating part:
It can change while you’re there.
When I landed in Beijing, Gmail literally stopped working that same day due to a dispute between Google and China. That’s the kind of unpredictability you’re dealing with.
What a VPN Actually Does (Simple Version)
A VPN (virtual private network) routes your internet connection through another country.
So instead of “you in China trying to open Gmail,” it looks like: “you in the Netherlands opening Gmail”
That’s it.
The One Mistake That Will Ruin Your Trip
Not installing your VPN before you arrive.
Once you’re in China:
- VPN sites may be blocked
- App downloads can fail
- Setup becomes much harder
Do it at home. Test it. Then travel.
Also: update the app before you go. Outdated versions are more likely to fail.
Even with all this prep: Download a offline essentials (maps, bookings, tickets) before you land—just in case your connection isn’t working right away.
What Actually Works (From Experience + Research)
After years of using VPNs while traveling, here’s the reality:
NordVPN (what I use)
- Works across countries (including China, where it’s generally reliable—like all VPNs, it can have downtime). I’ve used it for nearly 10 years and still rely on it daily.
- Has obfuscated servers (this matters in China)
- Easy to use—no constant tweaking
- Works for all major streaming services (Netflix, Hulu, etc)
Other options people use
- ExpressVPN — very consistent, widely recommended
- VyprVPN — solid alternative
- Surfshark — good for streaming
Look for “obfuscated servers” or “stealth mode”—that’s what helps VPNs work in China.
Free VPNs (honest take)
- TunnelBear works… sometimes
- Not reliable enough for work or critical access
- Often won’t even get you access to common travel planning sites
Fine for casual use. Not fine if you actually need reliable internet.
What it costs (quick reality):
Expect ~$10–13/month if you pay monthly, or much less ($3–6/month equivalent) on longer plans.
If You Actually Need Internet (Remote Work Reality)
This is the part most posts gloss over.
If you:
- work remotely
- need Gmail, Slack, client sites
- can’t afford downtime
Bring a backup VPN option.
Even paid VPNs go down temporarily.
That’s what long-term travelers and expats actually do. And if you rely on video calls, test your setup before you go—this is where things break first.
Don’t forget to book travel insurance for your trip—a great policy provides coverage in case of medical emergencies, lost or stolen gear, adventure sports riders, and more. I’ve used IMG Global for more than a decade highly recommend it!
How to Check If Your Sites Will Work
Before you go, test what you rely on.
Use tools like:
- GreatFire.org
- “Is it blocked in China” tools
Check:
- banking
- work tools
- travel planning sites
Don’t just think “social media.” Think logistics.
What to Expect Once You’re There
Even with a VPN:
- Speeds can be slower
- Connections can drop
- Some days work better than others
And honestly? You adapt quickly.
I biked through rural areas, ate incredible food, explored Shanghai—and still had internet when I needed it.
That balance mattered.
One thing that surprised me: some hostel computers already had VPNs installed. It’s not something I’d rely on, but it can be a fallback if your setup isn’t working. And hotel Wi-Fi vs. mobile data can behave differently—if one isn’t working, try the other.
Final Take
If you’re traveling to China:
- Don’t overthink it
- Don’t rely on free tools
- Don’t wait until you land
Set up a VPN before you go, test it, and you’ll be fine.
For me, that’s been NordVPN—because it works in China and everywhere else I travel—from Vietnam to Guatemala, and even from my apartment in Barcelona. At this point, it’s just part of how I travel.
If you travel often, that consistency matters more than anything.
I used last time I was in China.
Also used Witopia, it was good too, but kind of slow though sometimes.
Thanks for weighing in! Love knowing about some of the other options out
there, appreciate you sharing which you prefer :)
Could you please offer more suggestions for iphone vpn? Express vpn is not accessible from itunes in China. Also successfully used hotspot for the first 1.5 weeks that I was here but now it’s blocked…trying to find a free alternative though I’m very close to paying. I would hate to pay for a service though and it all be blocked here!
Sorry to hear that – I know the general recommendation is to definitely
download whatever proxies you need before you enter the country. If you are
going to be in China for any real length of time you need a pay VPN, HotSpot
shield is only for temporary travel, since it’s free the networks it uses
frequently get blocked. But, WiTopia, and some of the others mentioned in
the blog comments are being used by expat friends living there *right now,*
and they work very well. If it doesn’t work for you, you can likely
negotiate a refund. :) Hope that helps!
I can’t even login Gmail now without my VPN.
You might also want to try 12vpn.
Yikes! China had gmail blocked the day I arrived, but then opened it again
within 24 hours! Next time I go I’ll look into the one you suggested, thanks
for weighing in :)
Thanks for the additionallly information – it’s a tough call knowing which
one you’ll like more; I have an expat using WiTopia and she has really liked
it, so I can offer that up! :) Good luck with the decision!
VPN Express is the only one i think with iPhone aapp. whereas Witopia and StrongVPN recently got blocked in China but they are fine now i think. After this articles i went on to search for other VPN providers and i was surprised that there are around 100 of them :-|
There are so many VPN providers now that I am lil bit confused that which i should I go with. Though I might be interested in Witopia, but it does not give accounts for less than year, plus I am not satisfied with some of their reviews. Thats a good site i found when i went onto search for options after reading your article.
thank you it helped. Would like to hear your take in Witopia and Hotspot shield? have you used them personally?
That’s a great tip! I have a friend there who is having a terrible time
getting it to work because he had already entered China when he decided to
install – thanks for weighing it :)
That sounds like a really great option! Thanks for letting me know, I will
look it up and add to the list :)
I would recommend adding hidemynet.com to your list. They offer pptp, l2tp and openvpn support on many different platforms. Even with dynamic changing environments you should still be able to get through using one of these different protocols. It’s also cheaper than almost every other vpn service at only 5$/mo.
One thing worth noting is to download hotspotshield before you get to china as it seems the site is blocked in china.
One thing worth noting,
If you want to use hotspotshield, you may want to download and install that BEFORE you get to china.
Seems like the main site is blocked in china:
screencast.com/t/JYaEvOfRwJdg
Great tips and information. Although I’m not planning on heading to China anytime soon, this article is extremely useful. I really didn’t have any idea that China was that strict about what content they allowed people to view from the web.
Thanks Elise! They notoriously block out the social networking sites
alongside international news – there are some things you can look at and
you’d never know it was blocked! :)
perfect timing… currently in beijing and cant access twitter and facebook… im gona try hotspot shield now… thanks for this excellent tip shannon
If that doesn’t work for you (which it should), there are some recs here:
:) Good luck and enjoy China!
Shannon — I’ve had good luck with VyprVPN!
Perfect, and a great review :) Thanks for weighing in!