How to access restricted applications like Google Maps, Facebook, and others in China

When traveling in China, a VPN may be necessary

Internet usage in mainland China is controlled by the Great Firewall, leading to limited availability of applications such as Google Maps and Facebook within the country.

However, there are times when foreign tourists visiting China may need to use restricted applications, such as watching YouTube at night, checking the New York Times, or playing games. In these situations, the best solution is to use a VPN. With a VPN, you can freely use those applications or platforms that are otherwise inaccessible in mainland China.

As far as I know, using a VPN on an Android phone is quite convenient, while on an Apple device, it might require some more complex setup to use a VPN. Before traveling to China, you may want to test which VPN application works best for you to enhance your experience while traveling in China.

Is using a VPN legal in China? Although China's internet regulations were established as early as 1996, there have been relatively few enforcement cases. For a long time, "bypassing the Great Firewall" was widely regarded as a default practice. It wasn't until 2012, when China placed a high emphasis on cybersecurity, that related cases gradually increased.

From the perspective of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, its focus is on prohibiting the illegal operation of Internet access services and other international networking services. There is no prohibition on enterprises using VPN networking for their own business and management needs.

Looking at the attitudes of public security and procuratorial organs toward VPN usage and "bypassing the firewall," since 2012, there has been an obvious strengthening of law enforcement against illegal sales and provision of VPN and access services. Qualifications for such behavior in prosecution generally include: (1) illegal operation, and (2) providing intrusion or illegal control of computer information systems tools. The former is evident, while the latter implies that using a VPN might involve "intrusion or illegal control of computer information systems"(Most cases are concluded with "suspended sentences" or "the circumstances are minor and do not constitute a crime"). Thus far, no one has faced criminal penalties solely for using a VPN.

In conclusion, there is still a bottom line: do not engage in activities that violate conscience and public order.

As foreign tourists, using a VPN in China for your legitimate and lawful purposes won't attract attention. However, engaging in illegal operations or providing VPN services/access services is an entirely different matter.

This article is filed under the Pre-trip Preparations tag.

You might be interested: List of websites blocked in mainland China.