Have you heard that the internet in China is censored?

Known as The Great Firewall of China, it gives over one billion Chinese people a very sheltered online experience.

Thousands of foreign websites and apps are blocked, and locals are prevented from saying and doing things online that go against the Socialist grain.

But is the situation really that bad? What content is actually censored?

And, how do you access the internet in China as a foreign tourist?

I’m here to answer those questions and more! My name is Mike Cairnduff and I’ve lived, worked, and traveled extensively in China.

First, a brief summary of how it started

Gamers at internet cafe in Chengdu China in 2011

The Chinese used to go to internet cafes like this one in Chengdu. Image by Pcruciatti on Shutterstock.

China first started censoring the internet in the late 1990s.

Only some websites were blocked, and sometimes they would reappear out of the blue. Some sites might be blocked in one city but accessible in another, without reason.

Local Chinese, who knew that certain websites were blocked, could access free virtual private networks (VPN for short) to circumvent the Great Firewall.

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But as internet use exploded, and access to information across borders became so much easier, China sought to protect its Socialist values.

In the early 2000s, Google was blocked for the first time. And by the end of the decade, YouTube, Facebook, X (then Twitter) and a whole host of others joined the blocked list.

Fast-forward to now and the internet in China is more controlled than ever before.

Why China censors the internet

Chinese internet is censored

The Chinese internet is highly censored. Image by cottonbro on Pexels.

It’s important to note that China’s main ambition isn’t to cut off access to the outside world.

The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) knows the internet is critical for international business, communication and technological advancement.

Essentially, China censors the internet to control its people and reinforce CCP ideology.

In an increasingly connected world, information gains power and momentum through wide distribution. The CCP doesn’t want that – it wants to have the power to control the narrative.

Websites and apps (both domestic and international) that don’t align with the Party’s ideals are monitored, restricted or banned altogether.

But it’s a numbers game. The CCP is more concerned about what online content the masses are consuming rather than a relatively small number of people who might have a VPN.

How is the Chinese internet censored?

I recommend watching the above video if you have a couple of minutes.

Essentially, the Chinese government devotes a vast amount of resources (technology, people, time and money) to filter the internet and control online content.

The New York Times reports that there are 66,000 rules that control the content that is available to people using search engines in China.

The government makes the big internet companies self-censor and do much of the work for them. The biggest companies include:

  • Baidu
  • Sogou
  • Weibo
  • Douyin
  • Bilibili.

Companies also employ armies of censors to help stamp out illegal and inappropriate content on their platforms.

The kind of online content that China censors

Chinese internet is censored when it comes to Tibet

Keywords like ‘Tibet’ are still closely monitored and managed. Image by nrxfly on Pixabay.

Historically, the main kind of banned content included religious and politically sensitive content, as well as pornography sites.

There was also what’s known as the three T’s:

  • Tibet
  • Taiwan
  • Tiananmen.

For example, if you type Tiananmen Square into a Chinese search engine like Baidu, you’ll find touristy stuff but no information about the 1989 protests.

In Hong Kong, however, you will see protest images (for now, anyway).

The Chinese government has extended internet restrictions much further lately, to things like illegal surrogacy and false information about COVID-19.

Basically, any content deemed illegal or inappropriate is blocked on the Chinese internet.

In 2023, there were numerous mass killings in China and these were all highly censored.

Censors and AI systems checking live-streaming apps even look for so-called vulgar content including sexual innuendo, extensive tattoos and promotion of ‘abnormal’ beauty standards. These things are considered immoral by the Chinese government.

A point system has been established to keep the streamers in line, and points are deducted depending on the severity of the alleged offense.

At an international level, websites and apps where people can freely exchange information and ideas are all banned.

This includes all the big ones like Facebook, Instagram, Wikipedia and X. Most foreign news sites are also blocked.

I’ve put together a list of all the major banned sites in China if you want to dig deeper.

Foreign businesses are not immune

Microsoft plays a role in the Chinese internet

Microsoft’s Bing local search results in China are vastly different. Image by Efes Kitap on Pixabay.

Censorship is not limited to domestic Chinese companies.

Western internet companies doing business in China also filter what Chinese internet users can see. This is a condition of accessing the country’s estimated 800 million netizens.

While Google is banned in China, Microsoft’s Bing isn’t.

For Microsoft, this means keeping content the government deems sensitive out of Bing search results.

I find Bing’s search results in China are absolutely terrible. But for the foreign travelers who don’t use a VPN in China, Bing is the only English search engine so, sadly, it’s a lifeline.

Similarly, stock image company Shutterstock banned six keywords from its platform in 2020, outraging many of its own employees.

According to NBC, the banned keywords include ‘dictator’, ‘President Xi’, ‘Chairman Mao’, ‘Taiwan flag’, ‘Chinese flag’ and ‘yellow umbrella’ (a symbol of 2014 pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong).

Searches within China for those terms don’t produce any results, even though Shutterstock has thousands of relevant photos and videos.

The company has essentially self-censored for the sake of making more money.

Social media in China

Zhihu Chinese social media app

Zhihu is like Quora with user-generated questions and answers. Image by Mehaniq on Shutterstock.

Social media is highly controlled on the Chinese internet.

A user might post something and in 10 minutes it disappears because it’s deemed too senstive. Or, a user might try to post something but it won’t post at all.

This leads to people self-censoring, refraining from sharing anything sensitive.

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In addition, major social media apps require your real name, national ID number and phone number for registration.

This makes it easier for organizations to monitor individuals’ behavior.

Blocked websites and banned apps in China

Blocked apps in China on phone include Facebook and Instagram

All major popular Western apps are blocked. Image by Image by Primakov on Shutterstock.

An insane number of websites and apps are banned in China.

GFWeb estimates more than 966,000 domains are censored. Each month, thousands are added to the blocked list.

Some foreign organizations don’t know why they’re blocked.

Major foreign websites and apps that are banned include:

  • Facebook
  • Google
  • Gmail
  • YouTube
  • Reddit
  • Instagram
  • WhatsApp
  • Netflix
  • Snapchat
  • Wikipedia.

You can find out more by checking my list of apps banned in China here.

You can also check if any site is blocked in China in real time here.

How can you get internet access in China?

unlocked padlock with Chinese flag denoting VPN access in China

A VPN is a must-have digital item for your China travels. Image by SkazovD on Shutterstock.

As a foreign tourist, you’ll need to download a virtual private network (VPN) app before you arrive.

It’s quick and easy to do, and it’s the only reliable way of getting around The Great Firewall of China.

There are free VPNs available, but they’re usually blocked by the censorship. In addition, some of the paid ones might work in certain countries but not in China.

Here are some of the best VPNs that work in China (trust me, I’ve lived and worked in China – the cheap ones don’t work!).

A word of advice: Make sure you download the VPN app to all your devices before you leave your country, otherwise it’ll be too late.

China bans VPN apps from app stores, and website signup pages are blocked.

If you’re concerned about the legality of VPNs in China, then read my article called Are VPNs legal in China?

Where can you get internet access in China?

Accessing the Chinese internet

You’ll get Wi-Fi in your hotel in China. Image by Dean Moriarty on Pixabay.

Your hotel in China will have Wi-Fi. So internet should be included as part of your accommodation.

You’ll also find Wi-Fi hotspots all over the country, particularly in cafes, restaurants and Chinese tourist attractions. Even Starbucks in China offers free Wi-Fi.

If you need to do internet banking, or something confidential, I recommend using your hotel’s Wi-Fi rather than a more public network.

Some Wi-Fi hotspots, like at airports, will require you to enter a Chinese phone number. So, you won’t be able to use it – you’ll have to find somewhere else like a cafe.

Another option I recommend is installing an eSIM before you fly out.

This will allow you to access data when you’re on the move, not just in set places that offer Wi-Fi.

And, you’ll get to use one of the local Chinese carriers:

  • China Mobile
  • China Telecom
  • China Unicom.

Check out my article on the best eSIM for China which goes into more detail as well as a couple of good eSIM options.

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If you’re staying in China longer than about a month (e.g. for work or study), I suggest buying a local, physical SIM card. It’s much cheaper and you get a lot more data to burn through!

Just make sure your phone is not locked to a network back home.

With a local SIM card, you should also be able to get free Wi-Fi at places like airports which require you to have a Chinese phone number.

The WiFi Master app is a handy app to have if you want to find the nearest hotspot.

The Chinese internet is fast (and unpredictable)

Internet in China

Some days you won’t get great internet access especially with a VPN. Image by Gaston Laborde on Pixabay.

Internet connectivity and speed in China is generally very good.

China has one of highest mobile internet speeds in the world, according to Speedtest.

However, China’s internet can be temperamental at times especially with a VPN.

One day, you might have quick and unimpeded internet access. But the next day, a webpage might take minutes to load, or you can’t send a simple image file.

It can depend on the time you’re using the internet, the city you’re in, or the website you’re on. It can also depend on what’s going on in the world, particularly within China.

There are often reports of the internet getting a little shaky in the lead-up to an important Communist Party meeting. I don’t know if that’s a myth or not!

If possible, I suggest turning your VPN off and seeing if using the ‘local’ internet improves things.

I know the last time I worked in China, Spotify was super buggy when the VPN was on. When I turned it off, Spotify worked perfectly.

It’s just a pain when you’re constantly having to toggle between sites and apps that require a VPN.

Apps that will help you in China

Wechat app on phone

WeChat’s payment platform for foreign tourists is a game-changer. Image by Mercigod on Shutterstock.

There are numerous apps that will help you while you’re traveling in China.

The ones I find most useful include:

  • Google Translate – so you can understand the locals
  • Astrill VPN – I absolutely recommend this one from my experience
  • Alipay – a Chinese payment platform you can use
  • WeChat – another Chinese payment platform
  • Trip – for all your bookings including hotels and high-speed trains
  • DiDi – China’s version of Uber (you can also access it from within Alipay and WeChat).

For a full list, check out my blog on the best China travel apps.

Otherwise, if you’re going to be in China long term, check out the best Chinese apps for foreigners here.

Take-home message about the Chinese internet

handcuffs on network cables and China flag in background

The Chinese internet is more like an intranet. Image by SergeyCo on Shutterstock.

TLDR? Let me summarize it for you.

The internet in China is available for all citizens and foreign visitors. However, it’s not as open as the internet in other countries, making it more like an ‘intranet’.

Countless websites and apps are heavily monitored or banned outright for what the Chinese government deems illegal or inappropriate content. This is policed by the big internet companies.

The good news – if you’re going to China on a holiday – is that you can still access the ‘open’ internet which you know and rely on.

You’ll just need to download a VPN app before you board the plane. Make sure you check out my review on the best VPN for China.

That’s a wrap on China’s internet! Any questions before you travel? Drop me a line below.

Main image credit: Karen Roach on Shutterstock.

FAQ about the Chinese internet

Is it safe to use the internet in China?

That’s hard to answer definitively – I suggest installing a virtual private network (VPN) app on your phone before you arrive. This will give you the freedom to privately and securely use all your usual apps and websites.

Why did China ban Google?

The Chinese government wanted to control the content its people consume and have access to data. Google wasn’t willing to bow to the government, unlike Bing.

What do the Chinese use instead of Google?

Baidu is the most obvious and popular search engine equivalent, but young people are increasingly using video apps like Douyin (China’s TikTok) and social apps like Bilibili.