If you live in China or are planning to visit soon, it goes without saying that The Great Wall is a must see. However, there’s another wall that you certainly need to avoid if you’re an internet user: The Great Firewall of China. As soon as you land in Mainland China, you won’t be able to use a lot of internet services, websites, and apps, including Facebook, Twitter, Whatsapp, and many more. But with a VPN, all of these will be accessible with ease.
What is the Great Firewall of China?
The Great Firewall of China is perhaps the most notorious filtering system in the world. It blocks access to an obscene number of websites, including social media apps and many platforms. This system mostly targets foreign internet tools and forces some international companies to comply with its demands.
The Great Firewall of China, less commonly known as the Golden Shield, stops millions of people from accessing a number of top websites in China. This includes the likes of Wikipedia, Google, YouTube, and Instagram. The overbearing laws keep Chinese residents from using everyday tools from the US, UK, Canada, Australia, and elsewhere abroad.
How to Avoid the Great Firewall of China with a VPN
If you’re stuck with a Chinese IP address, there’s no way in the world you’re going to access a good number of websites. Nevertheless, if you can spoof your online location by getting a foreign IP address to appear to be browsing from another country, then all of that becomes possible. Here comes a VPN’s job.
With a Virtual Private Network, you can access servers in a good number of countries across the globe. Once you connect to a certain server, you’ll obtain an IP address from the country where it’s located, virtually relocating yourself to that country. This will render any GFW restriction useless and unblock every website and application in China. Just follow the steps below and get around The Great Firewall of China:
- Sign up with a VPN provider, ExpressVPN is highly recommended.
- Download and install the VPN application on a compatible device such as Android, iOS, PC, or Mac.
- Sign in using your VPN account.
- Connect to a server outside Mainland China.
- Finally, surf the web, connect with friends, and stream whatever you want in China.
Best VPN to Use in China
In order to go through this situation, you need a reputable VPN provider. I use ExpressVPN and it’s one heck of VPN. It grants you access to more than 2000+ plus servers around the world and it’s certainly not blocked by China. A VPN, like ExpressVPN, is an effective way to bypass restrictions imposed by the Chinese government. This way you can enjoy a free and open internet anywhere you are.
You may have your own opinion regarding VPN providers. You might have liked what I recommended, but you may have not. So, in that case, check out in the table below the best VPNs for China:
| Editor's Choice | Provider Editor's Choice | Rating | Stats | Visit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1 |  | Price Security Features Speed Support | ||
2 |  | Price Security Features Speed Support | ||
3 |  | Price Security Features Speed Support | ||
4 |  | Price Security Features Speed Support |
Popular Sites/Apps Banned in China
Behold what the GFW prohibits you from accessing while in Mainland China:
Social Media
- Snapchat
- Youtube
- Tinder
- Gmail
Search Engines
- Yahoo
Messaging Apps
- Facebook Messenger
- Telegram
- LINE
- KaKao Talk
- Signal
Streaming Websites and Applications
- Youtube
- Netflix
- Vimeo
- Dailymotion
- Twitch
- Periscope
News & Information websites
- New York Times
- The Economist
- Bloomberg
- Wall Street Journal
- Reuters
- Wikipedia (English)
- The Guardian
- Le Monde
- CNN
- BBC
- ABC
How to Bypass The Great Firewall of China – Final Thoughts
Since Internet censorship under the GFW is increasing in China, using a VPN is a must. You shouldn’t be limited to what your government allows you to do. Most of the VPNs now are getting blocked as well, that’s why I gave you a heads up with a list of VPNs that work in China. These are the best in the business and will guarantee you a free internet when in China. So don’t hesitate, roam the web freely with a VPN.