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Reddit
reddit.com › r/china › how many people in china (excluding foreigners) are currently using vpn to access global internet?
r/China on Reddit: How many people in China (excluding foreigners) are currently using VPN to access global internet?

This likely varies heavily by demographic. In the big cities probably like: Above 50yo: < 0.1 % 20-50yo: ~5% Below: no idea Now these are just based on my gut feel based on my experience. And I'd say most VPN users in China only use it occasionally to check IG or FB. Only a very small percentage is frequently using VPN. In the smaller cities and rural areas probably close to none

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Quora
quora.com › How-many-Chinese-use-a-VPN
How many Chinese use a VPN? - Quora
Answer (1 of 8): I agree with the answers saying very few. I don't have statistics but only samples. My wechat friend circle has alumnus from several top universities in China. A decent number of them went abroad, mostly the US, for further academic studies, and went back to China after years. T...
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NordVPN
nordvpn.com › blog › vpn-for-china
How to use a VPN in China in 2025 | NordVPN
3 weeks ago - Even though China has severe restrictions on VPN usage and blocks many VPN providers, VPNs exist in a legal gray area. However, many consumers still use VPNs for internet access. Officially, the Chinese government has banned the use of VPNs not approved by the government: VPNs must provide the government backdoor access to be approved, which renders them unsecure. Chinese citizens ...
People also ask

Can I use a free VPN in China?

Yes, but I don’t really recommend it. Most free VPNs don’t work in China at all, as they can’t afford to refresh their server IPs very fast or provide access to obfuscation. What’s more, out of the few free VPNs that do work in China, many put your data at risk and have very slow speeds and restrictive data caps. Still, there are some decent options out there if you insist on using a free VPN.

I personally recommend just using a paid premium VPN instead. Not all paid VPNs work well in China, though — but I’ve never experienced any issues while using ExpressVPN, which also provides high-end security, ultra-fast speeds, and really intuitive apps.

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thefoodranger.com
thefoodranger.com › can-you-use-a-vpn-in-china
Can You Use a VPN in China in 2025 (Full Guide) - The Food Ranger

What’s the best VPN to use in China?

There are plenty of good options, but my favorite one is ExpressVPN — it works with zero issues in China since it refreshes its server IPs super fast and it has obfuscation, and it protects your data with industry-leading security and privacy features. Plus, it has the fastest speeds out there, its apps are super intuitive, and all of its plans come with a risk-free 30-day money-back guarantee.

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thefoodranger.com
thefoodranger.com › can-you-use-a-vpn-in-china
Can You Use a VPN in China in 2025 (Full Guide) - The Food Ranger

Why do I need a VPN in China?

The main reason is to bypass the Great Firewall, so that you can access the free web. With a VPN, you can use tons of web services that are blocked in China, like YouTube, Google, Gmail, Instagram, and more. Also, using a VPN stops the government from monitoring your web usage. 

The best VPN to use in China right now is ExpressVPN. The provider changes its server IPs extremely fast (so it easily avoids IP blocks), and it also supports obfuscation on all servers and via all protocols (to get around VPN connection blocks). In addition to that, it has super-fast speeds, very intuitive apps, and high-end security and privacy features. 

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thefoodranger.com
thefoodranger.com › can-you-use-a-vpn-in-china
Can You Use a VPN in China in 2025 (Full Guide) - The Food Ranger
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The Food Ranger
thefoodranger.com › can-you-use-a-vpn-in-china
Can You Use a VPN in China in 2025 (Full Guide) - The Food Ranger
1 month ago - Using a VPN in China is pretty tricky, but this article should answer all of your questions. It covers how VPNs work in China, which VPNs to use, and more.
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Privacyjournal
privacyjournal.net › vpn info › are vpns legal in china in 2025?
Are VPNs Legal in China & Can You Use Them in 2025?
February 27, 2025 - The question “Are VPNs legal in China?” is more complex than it seems. I’ll investigate the uncertain status of VPNs on the Chinese mainland.
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PCMAG
pcmag.com › home › news › security › vpn
China Starts Issuing $145 Fines for Using a VPN | PCMag
January 9, 2019 - Now it seems the focus is turning to users as existing measures simply aren't working well enough. Data collected back in September last year revealed that 31 percent of internet users in China regularly use a VPN, placing China fourth in the top 10 list behind Indonesia, India, and Turkey.
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Reddit
reddit.com › r/china › illegal for tourist to use vpn in china
r/China on Reddit: Illegal for tourist to use VPN in China

It’s always been illegal. But like any other Chinese laws, it is just if they choose to enforce it or not.

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vpnMentor
vpnmentor.com › blog › are vpns illegal in china? or can you use them in 2025?
Are VPNs Illegal in China? Or Can You Use Them in 2025?
December 19, 2024 - Many VPNs are blocked by the Great Firewall, but are VPNs illegal in China? Find out if tourists and citizens can legally use a VPN in China and the risks.
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Quora
quora.com › Do-most-people-in-China-use-a-VPN-or-are-they-content-with-the-limited-internet-they-have
Do most people in China use a VPN, or are they content with the limited internet they have? - Quora
Answer (1 of 10): I suppose that this question refers to “how Chinese visit Youtube, Twitter, Facebook, etc.”. The answer is that “we don’t really have to”. The majority of Chinese don’t speak English or any other as second language. Their main circle of living is Chinese based.
Find elsewhere
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Voice of America
voanews.com › a › china-s-vpn-usage-nearly-doubles-amid-internet-censorship › 7488465.html
China’s VPN Usage Nearly Doubles Amid Internet Censorship
February 28, 2024 - FILE - Computer users sit near ... proper use of the Internet at an Internet cafe in Beijing, China, in this this Aug. 19, 2013 file photo. ... Last year, VPN usage in China nearly doubled, according to data from IT education news outlet Techopedia, this despite the country’s strict regime of internet controls of everything from overseas websites to online games. China’s “Great Firewall” is one of the world’s most comprehensive internet censorship regimes, preventing citizens from accessing ...
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Medium
medium.com › @slavaxyz › how-well-does-china-embrace-the-internet-94b084144769
How Well Does China Embrace the Internet? | by Slava Polonski, PhD | Medium
June 7, 2018 - According to a recent GWI survey, 148 million Chinese Internet users (32 percent of the Chinese Internet population) have used a VPN to access entertainment-related content, restricted websites and social networks such as Facebook and Twitter. The survey also finds that VPN usage peaks among ...
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Cybersynchs
cybersynchs.com › home › are vpns common in china? (vpn usage in china)
Are VPNs Common In China? (VPN Usage in China)
December 21, 2021 - According to various sources, more than 30% of people in China make use of a VPN. Most, if not all, ex-pats in China make use of a VPN. Many companies who do business with other countries require a VPN to communicate with these countries and ensure successful business relations.
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Chinaexpatsociety
chinaexpatsociety.com › technology › why-you-need-a-vpn-in-china
Why You (Still) Need a VPN in China in 2024
August 31, 2024 - As the great firewall of China is getting more sophisticated and less permeable, a reliable VPN connection is essential to access social networking sites and other websites and apps that China commonly blocks.
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Scmp
scmp.com › news › china › politics
For many Chinese internet users, it’s time to get a new VPN | South China Morning Post
July 6, 2017 - Beijing’s campaign targeting popular virtual private network services has left many people worried about how to conquer the Great Firewall
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GoClick China
goclickchina.com › home › blog › blog › china vpn: is it legal in china?
China VPN: Is VPN Legal or Illegal in China?
November 1, 2024 - What most people fail to understand is that China is very directive regarding how businesses use VPNs. For an organization to use VPNs, it must obtain a government clearance. Companies can’t just start using VPNs based on the notion that a VPN is crucial for business. They must first obtain approval from the relevant authorities before deploying VPNs. The laws, however, do not apply to individual users, though some Chinese citizens ...
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Quora
quora.com › Are-Chinese-citizens-legally-allowed-to-use-a-VPN-in-China
Are Chinese citizens legally allowed to use a VPN in China? - Quora
Answer (1 of 9): Some? Yes. All? No. Does it matter? Only as much as speeding 1 MPH over the limit. That is, if they are throwing the book at you, then it might show up as one of your crimes. How do I know? Given that all academic institutions in China just presume that their students have VPN...
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All Things Secured
allthingssecured.com › home › are vpns legal in china? (the real answer for 2025)
Are VPNs Legal in China? (the real answer for 2025)
February 5, 2025 - For example, the question of whether it’s legal to use a VPN in the US is a bit easier to define. But, as we have already mentioned, it’s different in China and it’s the Chinese citizens that could get in real trouble for using a VPN. Foreigners and expats visiting the country having nothing to worry about. The only thing that the rules and directives against VPN usage in China have managed ...
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Hackernoon
hackernoon.com › state-controlled-internet-the-story-about-vpns-in-china-a16ee6de5ec7
State Controlled Internet: The Story About VPNs in China | HackerNoon
March 26, 2019 - Despite the abundance of Chinese ... many tech-savvy users use local VPNs. These were small and illegal services that were constantly blocked. Everything changed when Western VPN providers came to China in 2014–2015. The government obliged them to obtain a special license or leave the country. Only public VPNs are legal in Chine. Such local services are licensed by the authorities and can be used by legal entities. Ordinary citizens can also use ...
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Comparitech
comparitech.com › home › blog › vpn & privacy › best vpn for china
Best VPN for China: Still working in 2025
January 20, 2025 - Traveling to China and wondering which is the best VPN for China? We've tested 59 to find the best China VPNS that still work in 2025.
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Travel China Cheaper
travelchinacheaper.com › is-it-legal-to-use-a-vpn-in-china
Is it Legal to Use a VPN in China in 2025? (surprising answer)
1 month ago - Is it legal to use a VPN in China? It's not a simple yes or no surprisingly. Here's a look at how China treats VPNs (April 2025 update)