Buzz
One of the significant challenges travelers face when visiting China is the government's restrictions on internet access. Popular social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube are blocked by the government's firewall, along with many other news websites. If you wish to share your travel experiences with friends and family, follow the guide below to bypass the blocks and access the websites you need.
Steps
VPN
Find a VPN service that fits your needs. A VPN (Virtual Private Network) is an encrypted connection to a remote server that allows you to access the internet from behind a restricted firewall. A VPN affects all your internet traffic, meaning services like Skype and other messaging platforms won’t be trapped by the firewall. VPNs are not free, but some providers offer monthly plans instead of annual subscriptions, which can be particularly useful for travelers.
Check if the VPN package you've chosen works in China. Some major VPN servers have been blocked by the Chinese government and are no longer accessible. Verify with your service provider and check online reviews about the service.
Download all the necessary software. Some VPN services offer a VPN client package (for remote users), which you'll need to install on your computer. Other VPN services provide connection details for setting up the connection manager on Windows or Mac.
- Ideally, you should download and install the VPN software before arriving in China. Many popular VPN programs are blocked, preventing registration or downloading any remote client packages. Setting up your VPN package outside of China will make it easier to contact customer support in case any issues arise.
- Some VPN services offer mobile apps for use on iPhone, iPad, or Android devices.
Connect to the VPN. Run the client or enter the VPN details into your operating system's connection settings. When provided, VPN clients are pre-configured and only require your login information.
- For Windows, search for VPN on your computer and select "Set up a virtual private network" (Windows Vista/7) or "Add a VPN connection" (Windows 8). Enter your connection details. Your VPN service will provide the server information to connect, along with your username and password. Simply enter this information into the VPN connection settings.
- For Mac OS X, click the Apple menu and choose System Preferences. Click on Network. Then, click the Add button (+) at the bottom of the list, and select VPN from the available options. Choose the type of VPN you're connecting to. The VPN type will also be provided by your VPN service. Enter the VPN settings, including the server you're connecting to, along with your username and password.
- Click on the Connect button to establish the VPN connection. Most VPNs will connect automatically. If you cannot establish a connection, contact VPN support to troubleshoot the issue.
Access Facebook. Once you're connected to the VPN, you can access any previously blocked websites, including using any internet-enabled programs like Skype. The connection might be slow, but this is entirely normal due to the distance between you and the VPN server.
Proxy
Try free proxies. A proxy is a website typically hosted in a different location, enabling you to access other websites through it. So, if your proxy is based in the US and you're accessing Facebook via this proxy, it's as if you're browsing Facebook from the US. Here is a list of free proxies you can experiment with. You should try these first, since they are free—but keep in mind that this may not be the best option for accessing Facebook in China because:
- China actively seeks and blocks proxies.
- Proxies often lack the capacity to handle social media traffic efficiently.
Give a secure proxy a try. One of the proxies I rely on to access Facebook and other social media platforms is Proxy Center. This proxy offers a free trial, so you can check its effectiveness before committing payment or even sharing your email. The benefit of using such a proxy (unlike the VPN mentioned earlier) is that there’s no need to install anything on your computer—everything is web-based.
Tor Browser
Download the Tor Browser package. Tor is a free network that helps maintain your anonymity while browsing. Information is relayed through a large number of worldwide nodes. Tor allows you to bypass any firewalls or restrictions on your connection. The downside is that websites can load slowly, as data must travel a long distance.
- The Tor Browser package is a stand-alone program that doesn't require installation. You can save it on a USB drive and use it on any computer. It's available for Windows, Mac, and Linux.
Run the browser. The Tor Browser is a modified version of Firefox and shares many visual similarities with it. When you run the browser, a window will pop up showing the status of your Tor connection. Once the connection is established, the browser will open.
- Only traffic from the Tor Browser will be routed through the Tor network. This means that Internet Explorer, Chrome, Safari, or any other browser won’t be anonymous via the Tor network while the Tor Browser is active.
Check if you are connected. When the browser window opens, you will see a confirmation page indicating a successful connection to Tor. You can now access websites that were previously blocked. Closing the browser window will disconnect you from Tor.
- While data on the Tor network is encrypted, it cannot decrypt the data leaving the Tor network. This means that any secure transactions you need to make are just as vulnerable as on the regular internet. Only share personal information with websites that have SSL enabled. These are sites with HTTPS:// instead of HTTP://, and the browser's address bar will show a security lock.
Advice
- You should change the passwords of all services accessed in China once you leave.
- Avoid using free VPN services. Many of them are scams.
Warning
- Technically, bypassing China's firewall is illegal, and you might encounter legal trouble, even though logging into Facebook may not cause any issues. Following this guide could present its own risks.
