China is incredible to explore — rich history, cutting-edge cities, and a culture you can’t replicate anywhere else. But the moment you rely on the open internet, you hit a very different reality: China runs the most advanced online censorship system on the planet, blocking huge chunks of the web.
For most travelers, the impact is immediate. Google Maps may stop cooperating, WhatsApp calls can break, Gmail can stop updating, and platforms like Instagram, YouTube, Reddit, Facebook, Messenger, and X (Twitter) are typically inaccessible. Even everyday work tools such as Google Drive, Dropbox, Slack, and Notion can become unreliable or unusable.
For tourists, that’s annoying. For expats, students, remote workers, and digital nomads, it can derail communication, navigation, and work — which is why getting a VPN before you arrive isn’t optional.
Over the last year, we tested 40+ VPNs across multiple Chinese cities (including Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Chengdu, Nanjing, and Guangzhou). After measuring connection success, stability, speed, bypass consistency, and resilience against DPI, only two providers kept delivering strong results: Astrill and ExpressVPN.
China’s internet filtering system — commonly referred to as the Great Firewall — is a combination of legal restrictions, real-time monitoring, and advanced filtering technology. The system operates at both the national and ISP level, continuously analyzing and blocking traffic that resembles proxies or VPNs.
The Great Firewall is frequently updated — especially during national events, political meetings, and holidays — which is why even popular VPNs often fail unpredictably. Only a handful of services invest heavily in China-optimized obfuscation technologies, and those are the ones that consistently survive.
Astrill has a reputation inside China that no other VPN can match. Unlike mainstream providers that target the global market, Astrill’s engineering team focuses heavily on building and updating technologies specifically designed to bypass China’s censorship system.
Astrill’s StealthVPN and OpenWeb protocols mask your traffic to make it indistinguishable from normal encrypted HTTPS activity. This makes it extremely difficult for the Firewall to detect or block the connection. The result is smoother browsing, more stable connections, and significantly fewer drops — especially during peak censorship periods.
Connection success rate: 92%Speed loss: 18–25%Excellent for video calls, cloud tools, and daily communicationPerforms well on hotel Wi-Fi, public hotspots, and even heavily throttled networksDuring major conferences and political events — when many VPNs experience outages — Astrill remained stable in all our field tests. This consistency makes it the most trusted choice for long-term use inside China.
Pricing: · $30/month · $15/month (1 year) · $12.50/month (2 years)
ExpressVPN is the most user-friendly VPN for travelers in China. With a clean interface, fast performance, and automatic obfuscation features, it works smoothly even for first-time VPN users. Its iOS app is particularly polished, making it one of the best choices for iPhone users visiting China.
Connection success rate: 70–80%Strong speeds for streaming, browsing, and social mediaVery stable, best vpn for iPhone & Windows users into ChinaExpressVPN is ideal for tourists, students, and short-term business travelers who want a fast and simple option without spending time on configuration. It’s not as resistant to heavy censorship as Astrill, but for most travelers, it performs more than well enough.
Pricing: · $12.99/month · $4.99/month (1 year) · $3.49/month (2 years)
The legality of VPNs in China is a common point of confusion. In simple terms: VPN use is not illegal for individuals. Millions of foreigners and local residents use VPNs every day without legal issues. China mainly targets companies using unauthorized VPNs for bypassing corporate controls.
China officially “approves” only government-controlled VPN services. However, these services still block foreign platforms, making them unsuitable for travelers or expats. This is why people rely on private VPNs instead.
A very important rule: install your VPN before entering China. Google Play Store and most VPN websites are blocked inside the country.
Without a reliable VPN, you cannot access the following platforms:
Even many banking apps, two-factor authentication services, and Western e-commerce sites struggle to work on Chinese networks. A strong VPN restores access and ensures your apps function normally.
If you want the most stable and consistent VPN inside China, choose Astrill. It’s the most reliable option for long-term expats, remote workers, and anyone who depends on uninterrupted communication for work and life.
If you're visiting China for a short time or want something easy and fast, ExpressVPN is the perfect choice. It’s user-friendly, fast, and effective for travelers and students.
Still not sure which VPN suits your needs? Take our 30-second personalized quiz — it will recommend the best option based on your device, travel duration, and usage habits.
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