The great firewall:
Anyone who has arrived in China without a VPN will have found that some websites are inaccessible. These include our social media staples of Facebook, Instagram, and X, just to name a few. Make sure you plan for this before rather than after you arrive in China. The only way to download a VPN will be if you already have one on your device, or if you have an international SIM card with roaming.
Recommended VPNs to download before heading to China:
I have tried using two VPNs so far. The first is the more expensive option, the second the free option.
Astrill
I have used this for multiple years in China. I have found it to be one of the most reliable VPNs, with the strongest connectivity. There have been rare occasions when I have not been able to connect, but after changing to another location option provided, I can regain connectivity. The reason I am trialling another VPN currently is the price for the Astrill subscription. I usually paid month by month, and found the cost adding up. If you purchased this for one year, or two years the price will be lower.
Full disclosure: the link below is an affiliate link. You will not be charged any extra money to use Astrill, but I will be paid commission if you do sign up using this link. I do not recommend any service that I have not used myself, and will report my experiences as honestly as possible.
Hotspot Shield (Basic)
I am currently using Hotspot Shield. There are two options: Hotspot Shield Basic; and Hotspot Shield Premium. I downloaded this recently before coming to China, and am using the basic rather than the premium option. The basic option is free. Occasionally there will be a notification requesting I join the premium subscription, but each time I decline and can continue to use it. So far it has been working well. I only lose connectivity when my internet connection is poor. Then I need to log back in again.
