If you’re heading to China you need to sort out a VPN before you leave home. Not when you get there. Before you leave. Because once you land, the Great Firewall of China blocks pretty much everything you rely on — Google, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, WhatsApp. All of it. Gone.
We’d been to China before — our last trip was 2019 — and we used a VPN then without too much trouble. But things change and what worked five years ago might not work now. So I did some research.
What is a VPN and why do you need one in China?
China has a strict internet censorship system known as the Great Firewall of China, which blocks access to most Western websites and social media platforms. When you use a VPN, your internet traffic is routed through a server in a different country, which lets you access blocked sites as if you were back home.
For us it wasn’t optional. We need access to Facebook, Instagram and YouTube for work. And honestly, i couldn’t survive without YouTube in a hotel room that has no English TV channels.
How I worked out which VPN actually works in China
I don’t trust what VPN companies say about themselves. I contacted ExpressVPN — we’d used them last time — and they said it should be working in China but they’d had some issues lately. That immediately rang alarm bells. What would I do if I arrived and it wasn’t working?
So I jumped onto Facebook and joined a few China travel groups — The China Travel Group, Travel to China and Backpackers Travel in China. I posted asking who was currently in China and what VPN they were using.
I got a few different answers — including one from some goose telling me to respect the laws of China — but the most common answer by far was LetsVPN.
LetsVPN — what it costs and how it works
LetsVPN is a bit more expensive than some but you can’t put a price on something that actually works. Here’s what you need to know:
- LetsVPN connects up to two devices per plan
- Plans range from one week through to longer subscriptions
- We chose a one-month plan at USD $6.99
Installing it was straightforward. Go to the mobile site, skip the free trial — you don’t want to be testing it for the first time when you land in China — choose your plan and pay through Google Play or credit card.
Did LetsVPN actually work in China?
Like a champion. From the moment we connected our SIM card at Xiamen Airport, LetsVPN gave us full access to Facebook, Instagram and YouTube — exactly like being on our home Wi-Fi. It kept working on hotel Wi-Fi too without any issues.
If you’re travelling in China as a couple and you need to stay connected, LetsVPN is what we’d recommend. Sort it out before you leave home and you won’t have to think about it again once you land.
We’ve been giving straight-up travel advice for midlife couples for over 26 years. Take a look at the story behind Street Eats & Window Seats — and for more honest travel advice for couples, start at the homepage.
Does a VPN work in China?
Yes — but not all VPNs work reliably. China’s Great Firewall actively blocks many VPN services, so it’s important to research which ones are currently working before you travel. We used LetsVPN on our most recent trip and it worked without any issues from the moment we landed.
What is the best VPN for travelling in China?
Based on our experience and the advice of people currently travelling in China, LetsVPN is one of the most reliable options right now. It worked consistently across mobile data and hotel Wi-Fi throughout our trip, giving us full access to Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.
Do I need to set up a VPN before I arrive in China?
Yes — absolutely. Do not wait until you land. Once you’re in China you won’t be able to access most of the websites you’d normally use to research, download or purchase a VPN. Set it up, test it, and make sure it’s working before you leave home.
How much does LetsVPN cost?
We chose a one-month plan at USD $6.99, which covers two devices. Plans are also available for shorter or longer periods depending on the length of your trip.
What websites are blocked in China?
China’s Great Firewall blocks most major Western platforms including Google, Gmail, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, WhatsApp, Twitter and many news websites. A working VPN is essential if you need access to any of these while travelling in China.
