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Does NordVPN Work in China?
Last updated May 25, 2024
China’s myriad censorship restrictions, also known as the Great Firewall of China, prevent citizens and travelers from accessing many popular platforms and sites. Some of those blockages include Twitter, Facebook, Twitch, Google, YouTube, and more. However, NordVPN can help bypass this issue.
NordVPN will allow you to connect to a secure server outside of China and access any site blocked by the government. When you use a powerful VPN, like NordVPN, you can change your virtual location to another country where there aren’t so many restrictions. Your connection will also be encrypted, so your ISP won’t be able to see what you’re doing online.
In this article, we’ll teach you how to use NordVPN in China and explain how this VPN can bypass the Great Firewall. We’ll also answer questions related to whether NordVPN is legal in China, whether it offers servers in the country, and how to unblock its site from the country. We'll offer some troubleshooting tips before we wrap up with a round of FAQs.
How to Use NordVPN in China
Your first step is to sign up for NordVPN, which is when you can install its app on your device. Your goal should be to connect to an obfuscated server, which will hide your VPN traffic. Here are the steps you need to take:
- Get your NordVPN subscription using any device with a Web browser.
- Download and install the NordVPN app on your device(s).
- Launch NordVPN and sign into your account.
- Visit NordVPN's settings and enable its kill switch.
- Click 'General' and switch to the OpenVPN protocol.
- Return to NordVPN's home screen and pick 'Obfuscated Servers.'
- Choose any location and connect. That's it!
Since VPNs are highly regulated in China, you can expect to experience some issues while trying to acquire one. Here are 7 things you can try to successfully download a VPN in China.
Is NordVPN Legal in China?
Yes, NordVPN is legal in China. Even though China has strict regulations concerning which media Chinese citizens can consume and which apps they can use, VPNs are still legal in the country.
However, not many VPNs actually work in China. Few are powerful enough to bypass the Great Firewall undetected. So, while you can legally use a VPN in China, you need to find one that works first.
The Chinese government compiled a list of VPNs that citizens are allowed to use. Only the VPNs that have granted the government backdoor access are approved and readily available to residents and tourists.
Does NordVPN Work in China?
Being a hugely capable VPN, it's no surprise that NordVPN works flawlessly in China. The provider works extra hard to stay off the government’s radar and doesn’t have any servers in China.
NordVPN isn’t on the “Approved VPN Providers” list made by the Chinese government, meaning it didn’t grant backdoor access, but it still works in China very well. More importantly, it can keep its users hidden and safe from the eyes of the government.
If you connect to a server outside of China with NordVPN, you’ll be able to freely use all the apps and visit all the sites you want. However, it’s crucial to connect to an obfuscated server, which will mask your OpenVPN traffic as regular HTTPS traffic and hide the fact that you’re using a VPN.
Does NordVPN Have Servers in China?
NordVPN has decided not to offer any servers in China, which is why the provider is able to fly under China’s radar undetected. Since NordVPN is based in Panama, it also doesn’t collect any data or information about its users. Thus, NordVPN users can surf the web safely at all times and in all locations, including China.
But which servers should you use if there are no Chinese ones? Well, as mentioned previously, if you want to remain undetected while using NordVPN in China, you should use obfuscated servers.
They are your best and safest bet that you won’t be discovered using a VPN in China that isn’t on the government’s approved list. Other than that, NordVPN has more than 6,300 servers across 111 countries worldwide that you can use.
How Does NordVPN Bypass the Great Firewall of China?
Thanks to its obfuscated servers, NordVPN is liable to bypass China's Great Firewall. As we already mentioned, obfuscated servers can mask the OpenVPN protocol that VPNs use to route traffic so that you fly past undetected.
Obfuscated servers make your traffic look like regular HTTPS traffic to your ISP. This is important because ISPs can detect when someone is using a VPN, even when the connection is encrypted.
Not all VPNs have obfuscated servers, which is why very few of them actually work in China. That said, NordVPN’s obfuscated servers can be used on nearly all devices, including your PC, laptop, phone, and tablet.
Is NordVPN’s Website Blocked in China?
NordVPN's website is most likely blocked in China, sharing the fate of most other websites related to VPN services. Since the provider is not on the government’s list of approved VPN providers, it can’t be accessed inside the country. However, there are methods you can use to access NordVPN’s website in China so you can download the app.
For example, NordVPN’s customer support can direct you to a mirror site, which is a copy of the main NordVPN site. However, mirror sites can be taken down quickly and might be unavailable to you.
Another method you can use to access NordVPN’s site is to subscribe and install NordVPN before you go to China or, if you’re a Chinese resident, while you’re traveling to another country. This is the most successful way to ensure that you can use NordVPN and unblock all the content that is otherwise restricted in the country.
NordVPN Not Working in China? Here's What to Do
NordVPN might not be working in China because it could be experiencing technical difficulties such as downtime or server failure. You can resolve this by connecting to another NordVPN server that is online. Other things you can try to fix NordVPN when it’s not working include the following:
- Restart the NordVPN App – When your VPN isn’t working, you can always try the oldest trick in the book: restarting the VPN. Simply shut down the app, wait a few seconds, and then boot it up again. You can also try disconnecting and then reconnecting to your WiFi.
- Delete Your Browser's Cache and Cookies – Your browser cache can reveal your real location. If this happens, your VPN won’t work because it won’t be able to override the cache to mask your IP. You can fix this by deleting your browser cache and cookies before you connect to your VPN.
- Switch to the NordLynx Protocol – Before you browse the web, ensure that your NordVPN app’s chosen protocol is set to NordLynx. You can do that by opening the “Settings” menu and selecting NordLynx from the protocol section.
- Stick to Obfuscated Servers - In general, it's recommended to stick to obfuscated servers, which will help you use smaller packets than usual. Thus, your data will have an easier time passing through the Great Firewall's cracks.
- Ask NordVPN for Support - If you can access NordVPN's website, you can initialize a live chat session and ask for help setting up this VPN in China. If you can't access the site, send an email to [email protected] and explain the issue you're experiencing.
Final Thoughts
Using NordVPN in China will allow you to browse the Internet freely and avoid all the restrictions the country’s government has in place. In fact, NordVPN is among the most powerful providers currently available, offering a whole host of features that can bypass censorship, secure your traffic, and ensure you're using the Web privately from China.
As such, NordVPN comes as our #1 choice for bypassing China's Great Firewall, as it can create an ultra-secure environment for you to conduct your online activities. If you are traveling to or live in China, this powerful VPN will allow you to access all the platforms and sites that are otherwise blocked in the country without any complicated workarounds.
That’s it for our guide to using NordVPN in China. Feel free to ask any additional questions or leave remarks if you have them via the comments section below. Thanks for reading!
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