China Firewall Test 2025: Check Which Websites & Apps Are Blocked Before You Travel

Planning a trip to China? One of the biggest surprises for first-time visitors is discovering that Google, Instagram, WhatsApp, and dozens of other everyday apps simply don't work. The Great Firewall of China blocks thousands of websites and services—and without preparation, you'll land in Shanghai with a useless smartphone.

This guide shows you exactly how to test what's blocked, what still works, and how to prepare before you board your flight.

What Is the Great Firewall of China?

The Great Firewall (officially the "Golden Shield Project") is China's internet censorship system. It's not a single wall but a sophisticated combination of:

• DNS poisoning – Redirects blocked domain requests to nowhere
• IP blocking – Blocks traffic to known VPN and foreign server IPs
• Deep packet inspection – Detects and throttles VPN protocols
• Keyword filtering – Blocks searches containing sensitive terms

The system is constantly evolving. Websites that worked last month might be blocked today, and vice versa.

Major Websites & Apps Blocked in China (2025)

Here's the current state of major services as of January 2025:

Completely Blocked

Category	Blocked Services
Search	Google, DuckDuckGo, Bing (partially)
Social Media	Facebook, Instagram, Twitter/X, TikTok (international version), Snapchat, Pinterest
Messaging	WhatsApp, Telegram, Signal, Discord, Slack
Video	YouTube, Netflix, Twitch, Vimeo
News	New York Times, BBC, CNN, Reuters, Bloomberg
Productivity	Gmail, Google Drive, Dropbox, Notion, Medium
Maps	Google Maps (works intermittently, unreliable)

Still Working in China

Category	Working Services
Email	Outlook, Yahoo Mail, Apple iCloud
Messaging	WeChat, iMessage (with phone number), SMS
Maps	Apple Maps, Baidu Maps, Amap (Gaode)
Music	Spotify (mostly works), Apple Music
Shopping	Amazon (slow), eBay, most brand websites
Banking	Most international banking apps
Video	Amazon Prime Video (limited)

Important caveat: "Working" doesn't mean "works well." Many unblocked sites load slowly due to routing through international cables. Performance varies by city, network, and time of day.

How to Test If a Website Is Blocked in China

Before your trip, you can test whether specific websites are accessible from within China using these tools:

1. GreatFire Analyzer

URL: en.greatfire.org/analyzer

GreatFire is a non-profit that monitors Chinese internet censorship. Their analyzer tests URLs from multiple Chinese locations and provides:

• Block status (blocked/not blocked/partially blocked)
• Historical data (when blocks started/lifted)
• Block method (DNS, IP, keyword)

How to use:

1. Enter the URL you want to test
2. Click "Test URL"
3. Review results from different Chinese cities

2. Comparitech China Firewall Test

URL: comparitech.com/privacy-security-tools/blockedinchina

Comparitech runs real-time tests from servers inside China. Results show:

• Current accessibility status
• Response time (if accessible)
• Server location used for testing

3. BlockedInChina.net

URL: blockedinchina.net

Simple, quick testing from multiple Chinese cities (Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, etc.). Good for checking if blocks are nationwide or regional.

4. Test From China (Manual Method)

If you have a friend or contact in China, the most reliable test is asking them to visit the URL directly. Automated tools occasionally give false positives/negatives due to:

• VPN detection affecting results
• Regional variation in blocks
• Time-sensitive blocking (some sites blocked only during "sensitive" periods)

Testing Your Essential Apps Before Travel

Don't just test websites—test the specific apps you use daily:

Email Clients

• Gmail: Blocked. Test if your email provider works through web interface AND app
• Outlook/Yahoo: Usually work, but test both mobile app and web
• Apple Mail: Works with iCloud, may have issues with Gmail backends

Messaging Apps

• WhatsApp: Completely blocked. No workarounds without VPN
• iMessage: Works between Apple devices, but only with phone numbers (not email addresses)
• Telegram/Signal: Blocked. Don't rely on these

Navigation

• Google Maps: Officially works, practically unreliable. Frequent timeouts, missing data
• Apple Maps: Works reasonably well in major cities
• Offline maps: Download before you go (Google Maps offline, Maps.me, Organic Maps)

Cloud Storage

• Google Drive: Blocked
• Dropbox: Blocked
• iCloud: Works
• OneDrive: Works (slower than usual)

How to Prepare Before Your Trip

Testing is step one. Here's your complete preparation checklist:

1. Download VPN Apps Before Arrival

VPN provider websites are blocked in China, so you can't download apps after you arrive. Before your flight:

• Download at least 2 VPN apps (providers frequently get blocked)
• Test each VPN works on your home network
• Purchase subscriptions—free trials often require verification that won't work in China
• Enable "obfuscation" or "stealth" mode if available

VPNs that currently work in China (as of January 2025):

• ExpressVPN (most reliable, but expensive)
• Astrill (popular with expats)
• Surfshark (budget option, less consistent)
• NordVPN (works with obfuscated servers)

2. Set Up Offline Alternatives

Assume your VPN will fail at the worst possible time. Prepare backups:

Need	Offline Alternative
Maps	Download entire region in Google Maps/Apple Maps offline
Translation	Download Chinese language pack in Google Translate
Documents	Save important PDFs/docs locally, not in Google Drive
Entertainment	Download Netflix/YouTube content for offline viewing
Communication	Exchange WeChat IDs with travel companions

3. Create a WeChat Account

WeChat is China's "super app"—messaging, payments, taxi booking, food delivery, and more. You'll need it.

Important: Create your account BEFORE arriving in China. New accounts often require verification from an existing WeChat user, which is harder to arrange once you're already there.

Steps:

1. Download WeChat
2. Sign up with phone number
3. Complete verification (may need existing user to scan QR)
4. Link a credit card for WeChat Pay (works with some foreign cards)

4. Set Up Alipay

Alipay now accepts international credit cards for tourists. Set it up before arrival:

1. Download Alipay International
2. Link Visa/Mastercard
3. Enable "Tour Pass" for easier payments

5. Download Chinese Map Apps

Even with a VPN, Google Maps is unreliable in China. Download these:

• Baidu Maps: Best coverage, Chinese interface (use translate mode)
• Amap (Gaode): Great for navigation, some English support
• Dianping: Reviews + directions for restaurants and attractions

Real-Time Firewall Testing During Your Trip

Already in China and need to check if something's blocked? Here's how:

Quick Self-Test Method

1. Disconnect VPN completely
2. Try accessing the service
3. If it loads (even slowly), it's not blocked
4. If you get an error or infinite loading, it's likely blocked

Common error messages that indicate blocking:

• "Connection timed out"
• "Unable to connect to server"
• "DNS resolution failed"
• Blank page that never loads

Check If Your VPN Is Working

Sometimes VPNs connect but don't actually route traffic properly. Test by:

1. Connect to VPN
2. Visit whatismyipaddress.com
3. If it shows a foreign IP, VPN is working
4. If it shows a Chinese IP or fails to load, VPN isn't routing correctly

VPN Troubleshooting in China

VPN not working? Try these steps:

1. Switch servers – Try different countries (Japan, Singapore, US)
2. Change protocols – Switch from OpenVPN to IKEv2 or WireGuard
3. Enable obfuscation – Called "stealth mode" or "scramble" in some apps
4. Try mobile data – Hotel WiFi often has extra restrictions
5. Restart device – DNS cache issues are common
6. Try different VPN – This is why you downloaded multiple apps

Regional Variation in Blocking

The Great Firewall isn't uniform across China:

Stricter Regions

• Beijing – Tightest restrictions, fastest blocking updates
• Xinjiang – Heavy surveillance, frequent VPN crackdowns
• Tibet – Similar to Xinjiang

Relatively Relaxed Regions

• Guangzhou/Shenzhen – Near Hong Kong, slightly more tolerant
• Shanghai – Business focus means more foreign access
• International hotels – Sometimes have special internet access

Special Administrative Regions (No Firewall)

• Hong Kong – Full internet access, no restrictions
• Macau – Same as Hong Kong

If your itinerary includes Hong Kong, you can access everything there—but the moment you cross into mainland China, the firewall applies.

What Happens If You Get Caught Using a VPN?

Let's address the elephant in the room: Is using a VPN in China illegal?

For tourists: Practically zero risk. Millions of foreigners use VPNs daily with no consequences. The government is aware that foreign businesspeople and tourists need VPN access.

What could theoretically happen:

• VPN connection gets blocked (common)
• Hotel asks you not to use VPN (rare)
• Police ask to see your phone (extremely rare, usually during sensitive political periods)

What won't happen:

• Arrest for VPN use (no cases of tourists being arrested for personal VPN use)
• Deportation
• Fines

Practical reality: The Chinese government focuses enforcement on VPN sellers and Chinese citizens distributing VPN services, not foreign tourists checking their email.

Alternative Communication Methods

If VPN fails completely, you can still communicate with home:

Working Options Without VPN

• International calls/SMS – Expensive but reliable
• iMessage – Works between Apple devices
• WeChat – Install beforehand, contact family through WeChat
• Email through Outlook/Yahoo – Works without VPN
• Hotel business center – Some have unfiltered internet

Emergency Communication

• Your embassy – Has communication channels that bypass the firewall
• International hotels – Front desk can help contact family
• Airport lounges – Sometimes have better internet access

Building Your China Internet Survival Kit

Here's your complete pre-departure checklist:

Apps to Download

• 2+ VPN apps with active subscriptions
• WeChat (account created and verified)
• Alipay International
• Baidu Maps or Amap
• Google Translate (with Chinese offline pack)
• Your VPN provider's setup guides (save as PDFs)

Content to Download Offline

• All regions you'll visit in offline maps
• Entertainment (movies, podcasts, ebooks)
• Important documents (visa, hotel bookings, emergency contacts)
• Translation phrasebook or app

Accounts to Set Up

• WeChat Pay linked to card
• Alipay Tour Pass activated
• Email accessible through non-Google provider

Information to Save

• VPN server addresses and manual configuration details
• Emergency contacts (embassy, hotel, local friends)
• Screenshot of important confirmations (hotel, flights)

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can I access Facebook/Instagram/WhatsApp in the airport before going through immigration?

A: It depends on the airport. Some international terminals have unfiltered WiFi, but don't count on it. The moment you connect to Chinese networks, assume the firewall applies.

Q: Will my VPN work on Chinese SIM cards?

A: Yes, VPNs work regardless of what SIM you're using. The firewall blocks at the network level, not the SIM level.

Q: Is 4G/5G faster than hotel WiFi for VPN?

A: Often yes. Hotel WiFi frequently has additional monitoring/throttling. Mobile data tends to be faster and more reliable for VPN connections.

Q: Can I use my Chinese phone number for two-factor authentication?

A: You can receive SMS verification codes on a Chinese number, but services like Google won't send 2FA codes to Chinese numbers. Set up alternative authentication (authenticator apps, backup codes) before arrival.

Q: Do business hotels have better internet?

A: Sometimes. International chain hotels (Marriott, Hilton, etc.) occasionally have special business internet options, but don't expect unfiltered access.

Final Thoughts

The Great Firewall is a reality of traveling in China, but it doesn't have to ruin your trip. With proper preparation—testing before you go, downloading VPNs and essential apps, and setting up offline alternatives—you can stay connected with home while enjoying everything China has to offer.

The key is preparation. Once you land in China without VPN apps installed, your options become severely limited. Spend an hour before your trip running through this checklist, and you'll avoid the frustration that catches unprepared travelers.

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Need help with China trip preparation? The China Survival Kit includes a real-time firewall checker tool, VPN setup guides, and 15+ other essential resources for staying connected in China.