How to Access Google, YouTube, and Gmail in China?
A Chinese local’s guide to what actually works.
If you’re planning a trip to China, or if you’ve already landed, there’s one question you’re going to run into almost immediately: Why can’t I open Google, YouTube, Gmail, Instagram, or Facebook?
The short answer is that mainland China runs on a completely different internet infrastructure. It’s not just Google—most international websites and apps are blocked by default. For many first-time visitors, this can be a shock.
It’s one of the biggest headaches for anyone traveling here, and I get it. Losing access to Google and other sites feels like losing your maps, your news, your work tools, and your connection to the rest of the world all at once.
But don’t sweat it. You can absolutely use Google in China. As a local who’s been using a number of international sites since my college days nearly 20 years ago, I can give you the inside scoop and how it’s done.
Why VPN advice online is often misleading
If you search “how to use Google in China,” or “best vpns in china,” you’ll see countless articles pushing big-name VPNs like NordVPN, ExpressVPN, or Surfshark. In reality, very few VPNs actually work reliably in China.
Ironically, the more famous a VPN server is, the bigger a target it becomes, and thus, the less useful it ends up being. A brand with a larger user base is easier for the “great firewall” to spot and block.
So in China, popularity is often a disadvantage, not a benefit.
Even if one does work, speeds can tank or it can stop working entirely during “sensitive periods,” such as major national holidays or political events.
So why are VPNs recommended everywhere?
The answer is simple: affiliate commissions. Unfortunately, many blogs don’t actually care if the service actually works for you, because as long as you click their link and pay, they get a cut. So if the commission is high enough for an advertiser or writer, they’ll promote a VPN even if it’s barely functional in China.
And that’s why you won’t find any affiliate links on this article. I’m not selling anything; I just want to share what works in the real world.
What many international visitors don’t realize is that the easiest solution doesn’t even require a VPN. If you’re using a SIM card from your home country and you’ve enabled international roaming, your favorite sites, including Google, YouTube, and Gmail, will usually work on their own.
With international roaming, your data is typically routed through your home country’s network, rather than China’s domestic internet system, which effectively bypasses the local blocks. I’ve used this method myself.
Years ago, I had a SIM card from Macau, and even in mainland China, everything worked like a charm.
While roaming fees can vary and sometimes get expensive, in terms of convenience, this is definitely the most hassle-free option, as there’s no setup or extra apps—everything works the way that you’re used to.
The only downside is the speed, which can lag depending on how far your home carrier is from China.
And keep in mind that as soon as you connect to a local Chinese Wi-Fi network, the “great firewall” kicks back in, and those sites will stop working.
If You Do Decide to Use a VPN, Proceed with Caution
If roaming is too pricey and a VPN makes more sense for you, that’s completely understandable, but you should be careful.
Despite what many “Top 10 VPN” articles claim, as I said before, the popular VPNs are often unreliable. And you don’t have to take my word for it. If you do a quick search on Reddit, you’ll see plenty of frustrated users saying the exact same thing.
Based on my own testing and observation over time, the number of VPNs that actually work consistently in China is very small. Currently, there are only two that I can confidently recommend: LetsVPN and Astrill.
- LetsVPN: This is a solid, affordable choice that many locals and expats use. If you’re just visiting, a one-month plan is usually perfect.
- Astrill: This is a long-standing, strong option that many foreigners swear by, but it is significantly more expensive.
Is Using a VPN Illegal in China?
This is the number one question that I get. The short answer is no. Using a VPN as an individual person is not illegal in the way that many people fear. The government has cracked down on the sale of unauthorized VPN services, but individual users, especially foreign travelers, don’t get in trouble just for using them.
I’ve written a deeper dive on this, but just know that practically speaking, using one on your trip is safe.
That said, as I mentioned above, you might not even need one if you use the right SIM or eSIM.
As for the locals, the vast majority use what we call “airport services”, which are specialized proxy networks typically run overseas. They are fast and affordable, but the interfaces are almost entirely in Chinese, so they can be a nightmare for short-term travelers to set up. For that reason, I won’t dive into them here.
Why I Personally Recommend an eSIM over a VPN
If I had to choose between a VPN and an eSIM for traveling, I’d go with an eSIM every time.
As long as your eSIM is operated by a carrier outside mainland China, accessing Google, YouTube, and Gmail is usually seamless. Like international roaming, it’s not subject to the firewall, and is therefore more stable than a VPN.
As I said before, VPNs are easy for the system to detect and disrupt.
An eSIM, on the other hand, feels like a normal internet connection. It’s similar to roaming, but usually at a much lower cost.
How to Choose the Right eSIM
I use a physical Macau-based SIM, but I haven’t tried every eSIM service on the market. What I’m sharing here is based on technical research and feedback from the expat community.
When deciding on an eSIM, be sure not to blindly trust online recommendations, especially those that are heavily marketed. If you see people pushing discount codes on Reddit or blogs, they are likely getting an affiliate commission.
From a technical standpoint, any eSIM that routes data outside of mainland China should give you access to Google, but speed and stability matter too.
Speed mostly depends on where the eSIM’s network is based. The closer the server is to mainland China (like Hong Kong or Singapore), the better your connection will be.
Airalo and Saily are two solid, user-friendly choices.
However, keep in mind that due to the size of the country, performance can vary depending on which province of China you’re in. For this reason, you’ll likely see mixed reviews online.
If you don’t care about using TikTok during your trip, your best bet is to buy an eSIM directly through trip.com.
These servers are usually based in Hong Kong and run on the infrastructure of China’s three major telecom operators. They offer fast speeds and plenty of data at very reasonable prices. Since TikTok doesn’t operate in Hong Kong, you may need a different plan if using it is a deal breaker for you.
It’s important that you install and set up your eSIM before you arrive in China. Trying to download and activate it once you’re behind the firewall can be a pain.
One last tip: Even if you have an eSIM, I still recommend picking up a temporary Chinese SIM card at the airport. They’re cheap and give you a local number, which is essential for apps like Didi/Amap (China’s Uber) or Meituan (food delivery). When you don’t need to use Google, switching to local data will give you much faster speeds.
Final Thoughts
Many travel blogs are essentially advertisement platforms for VPN companies. It’s easy to monetize VPNs and SIM cards for travelers to China, which is why you see so much of the same misleading advice. I wrote this guide to give you a realistic and honest picture of the internet situation in China.
If you have friends heading to China soon, feel free to share this with them. Everything I’ve shared here comes from nearly 20 years of navigating the web in China!
