How do I access social media In China?
If you are about to travel to China or move there then this post is for you!
I’m sure you have heard of ‘The Great Fire Wall of China’ if you haven’t then take note!
It means all the apps you love at home - Facebook, Instagram Google, and even YouTube are all blocked in China, so you can’t access them.
Now obviously you see people in China posting on Instagram and YouTube regularly so it’s a pretty valid question. So how do people get around it?
Well, if you are visiting China then this would be my most important piece of advice, get a VPN.
WHAT’S A VPN?
Well, a VPN stands for Virtual Private Network which means it disguises where you are in the world and it pretends you are somewhere else. So you can set the location as Tokyo, LA, Manchester, basically anywhere that isn’t mainland China and you access these apps.
IT’S LIKE A MAGIC LITTLE BUTTON THAT YOU PRESS THAT UNLOCKS YOUR LIFE.
DO I REALLY NEED A VPN?
Well, that depends, do you use Facebook, Instagram, Google, YouTube, Netflix?
If you answered yes to any of the above then yes, you need a VPN.
Even things like emails, I can’t get on my Gmail account without one. Don’t worry it’s not as scary as it sounds and using a VPN is super easy, albeit a little slower at times.
You would be surprised at how many things online are blocked so overall if you want to use any Western sites I would highly advise getting one for your time in China.
A lot of my Chinese friends don’t use a VPN as there are so many Chinese social media sites that are the same as Western social media sites but in Chinese instead of English. Coming from a Western country, however, when I travel I do need access to these sites and apps.
Remember, you wouldn’t be able to get Google Maps or Google Translate unless you downloaded the offline version before you got to China.
CAN I WATCH NETFLIX WITH A VPN?
Yes!! You can set the location to anywhere in the world so you can watch Netflix, HBO, BBC, Channel 4 anything your heart desires. Netflix also changes from country to country so Netflix USA has different shows to Netflix UK.
CAN I USE A VPN IN OTHER COUNTRIES?
Of course you can, VPN’s aren’t just great for China. I know other countries in the world have censored internet so this would work in those countries too. It would also work if you were living in a different country and wanted to access your home country’s TV shows or your bank etc.
It is also a great way of staying safe online when using public wifi as it changes your IP address so there is an extra level of security.
DO I NEED TO PAY FOR A VPN?
Obviously, there are loads of different options out there but not all of them work well in China. If you can, I would download a few options so that if one fails you have a backup.
FREE VPN
I’ve personally never had a free version but I know there are many, the problem with these is they are not as reliable as the ones you pay for. There is no harm in downloading a free one as a backup before you come or if you are just travelling, but keep in mind it may not work.
PAID VPN
I would highly recommend forking out and paying for a VPN. If you are like me and social media is your life then you don’t want to risk it not working. The fee can be quite minimal depending on the package and provider it is usually around $10 a month. Also, the longer you sign up for the cheaper it gets and you can often get free months as well.
Some VPN companies also offer a free trial of like a month, so you can test it out and see if it works before committing. This is also a great idea if you are coming for a holiday and a way to get around paying for it.
You can usually have a few devices on one subscription so that means you can get it on your phone and laptop and you might be able to share it with other family members who come with you.
WHATEVER VPN YOU CHOOSE MAKE SURE YOU INSTALL IT BEFORE YOU COME TO CHINA, AS IT’S MUCH HARDER ONCE YOU GET TO CHINA.
It’s not impossible as we have had to do it a few times as we have bought a new phone etc but it is harder. Have a stress-free trip by gaining access to your favourite apps and get your VPN BEFORE.
HOW RELIABLE IS A VPN?
Unfortunately in China, no VPN is 100% reliable and that’s just something you have to accept. Technically, VPNs are not allowed although they are widely used around the country. So around public holidays, political meetings, etc, it can be hard to get access to your VPN no matter which you have. Usually, once this time has passed the connectivity goes back to normal.
WHAT’S THE BEST VPN?
The whole time I lived in China I used Express VPN and Astrill. We had both as we didn’t want to lose connectivity. If one was down usually the other worked. Both have pros and cons.
I think Express is more user-friendly and more reasonably priced. You can also get a free 30-day trial which means you could use it for travelling in China and not have to pay. Then if you enjoy it you can pay for more months. I find Express works really well when you aren’t in China as well so if you are looking for something to use all around the world this is a good option.
You can use my code to get 3 months free on a year plan with
EXPRESS VPN
Last year, however, when we visited China ExpressVPN wasn’t working as well and we had to download another app. This might have been fixed now but it is something to be aware of.
We used another app called LETSVPN which worked well. You can pay for a week’s VPN which is perfect if you aren’t staying in China for very long.
Enter my ID: 134647702 after the installation to get an extra 3-day membership for free.
Astrill is good if you live in China as you can pay for a longer subscription. If you are just travelling for a month or less it is very expensive in comparison to others. If it doesn’t work very well I personally think this is a bit risky.
So, if you are coming to China don’t hesitate, a VPN will be your best friend, it’s certainly my most used app in China.
I also made a video with this information….
If you need some help planning your China trip then get in touch I can help you!