You land in Shanghai, turn on your phone, and open Google Maps to find your hotel. It loads — but shows you're in the middle of a river. You try Gmail. Nothing. WhatsApp? Not connecting. Instagram? Blank feed.
Welcome to the Great Firewall of China.
Over 100 of the world's most popular websites and apps are blocked in mainland China. This guide covers every major service — what's fully blocked, what's partially working, what works fine, and what to use instead.
30-Second Summary
| Category | Status | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Fully blocked | No access at all | Google, Gmail, YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, Twitter/X, TikTok, ChatGPT, Claude, Netflix, Dropbox, Telegram, Discord |
| Partially blocked | Some features work, some don't | WhatsApp (text OK, calls blocked), Zoom (connects but drops), Spotify (offline OK, streaming blocked), Wikipedia (English sometimes OK) |
| Works normally | Full access | WeChat, Alipay, Apple Maps, Apple iMessage, FaceTime, Outlook, iCloud, Trip.com, DiDi, Baidu |
Fully Blocked: Complete List by Category
These services do not work at all in China without a VPN or international roaming eSIM.
Google (All Services)
| Service | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Google Search | ❌ Blocked | Including google.com, google.co.uk, all domains |
| Gmail | ❌ Blocked | Web and app — no sending or receiving |
| Google Maps | ❌ Blocked | May appear to load but GPS offset makes it useless |
| YouTube | ❌ Blocked | Including YouTube Music, YouTube Kids |
| Google Drive | ❌ Blocked | Can't access stored files |
| Google Docs / Sheets / Slides | ❌ Blocked | Entire Google Workspace is blocked |
| Google Photos | ❌ Blocked | Can't view or backup photos |
| Google Translate | ❌ Blocked | Web version blocked; app may work partially offline |
| Google Play Store | ❌ Blocked | Can't download or update Android apps |
| Google Calendar | ❌ Blocked | Including reminders and tasks |
| Chrome sync | ❌ Blocked | Bookmarks, history, passwords won't sync |
Meta (Facebook / Instagram / WhatsApp)
| Service | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| ❌ Blocked | Including Facebook Messenger | |
| ❌ Blocked | Feed, stories, DMs — all blocked | |
| ⚠️ Partial | Text messages usually work; voice/video calls blocked | |
| WhatsApp Web | ⚠️ Partial | Same as app — text OK, calls blocked |
| Threads | ❌ Blocked | Meta's Twitter competitor |
| Meta Quest / Oculus | ❌ Blocked | VR services |
Messaging & Communication
| Service | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Telegram | ❌ Blocked | All features |
| Signal | ❌ Blocked | All features |
| Discord | ❌ Blocked | Including voice channels and DMs |
| Slack | ⚠️ Partial | Often slow, may load but notifications unreliable |
| LINE | ❌ Blocked | All features |
| KakaoTalk | ❌ Blocked | All features |
| Snapchat | ❌ Blocked | All features |
| Skype | ⚠️ Partial | Text sometimes works; calls very unreliable |
Social Media
| Service | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Twitter / X | ❌ Blocked | Including X Pro, TweetDeck |
| TikTok (international) | ❌ Blocked | See TikTok vs Douyin section below |
| ❌ Blocked | All subreddits | |
| ❌ Blocked | All features | |
| Tumblr | ❌ Blocked | All features |
| Twitch | ❌ Blocked | Live streaming and VODs |
AI Tools (2026 Update)
| Service | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| ChatGPT | ❌ Blocked | Including GPT-4, DALL-E, API access |
| Claude (Anthropic) | ❌ Blocked | All features |
| Gemini (Google) | ❌ Blocked | All features |
| Microsoft Copilot | ⚠️ Partial | Bing version sometimes accessible; standalone blocked |
| Perplexity | ❌ Blocked | All features |
| Midjourney | ❌ Blocked | Including Discord-based access |
| OpenAI API | ❌ Blocked | Developers can't call OpenAI endpoints |
Video & Streaming
| Service | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Netflix | ❌ Blocked | Including all regional libraries |
| Disney+ | ❌ Blocked | All features |
| HBO Max / Max | ❌ Blocked | All features |
| Amazon Prime Video | ⚠️ Partial | Sometimes accessible but very slow |
| Hulu | ❌ Blocked | All features |
| Twitch | ❌ Blocked | Live and recorded streams |
| Vimeo | ❌ Blocked | All features |
| Dailymotion | ❌ Blocked | All features |
| Spotify streaming | ⚠️ Partial | Offline playback works; streaming unreliable |
Cloud Storage & Productivity
| Service | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Dropbox | ❌ Blocked | All features |
| Google Drive | ❌ Blocked | All features |
| Notion | ⚠️ Partial | Pages may load slowly; sync issues common |
| OneDrive | ⚠️ Partial | Works but slow |
| iCloud | ✅ Works | Apple services generally fine |
| GitHub | ⚠️ Partial | Usually accessible but sometimes throttled |
News & Media
| Service | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| BBC News | ❌ Blocked | Including BBC Sport, BBC iPlayer |
| New York Times | ❌ Blocked | All sections |
| Wall Street Journal | ❌ Blocked | All sections |
| Reuters | ❌ Blocked | All sections |
| The Guardian | ❌ Blocked | All sections |
| CNN | ❌ Blocked | All sections |
| Bloomberg | ❌ Blocked | All sections |
| Wikipedia (Chinese) | ❌ Blocked | Chinese-language Wikipedia |
| Wikipedia (English) | ⚠️ Partial | Sometimes accessible, sometimes blocked |
| Medium | ❌ Blocked | All articles |
TikTok vs Douyin: What's the Difference?
This confuses a lot of people. Here's the clear explanation:
| TikTok (International) | Douyin (抖音) | |
|---|---|---|
| Available in China? | ❌ No — fully blocked | ✅ Yes — China's #1 short video app |
| Owned by | ByteDance (via TikTok Ltd) | ByteDance (directly) |
| Content | International creators | Chinese creators, Chinese content |
| Language | Multiple languages | Chinese |
| App Store | International App Store/Play Store | Chinese App Store only |
| Accounts | Separate system | Separate system |
| Can foreigners use Douyin? | — | Yes, but registration requires Chinese phone number (+86) |
The key insight: TikTok and Douyin are completely separate apps with separate content, separate accounts, and separate algorithms. ByteDance created TikTok for international markets and keeps Douyin for the domestic Chinese market. The Chinese government blocks the international version (TikTok) while promoting the domestic version (Douyin).
If you want short-form video in China: Download Douyin, but you'll need a Chinese phone number to register. Or use a VPN to access TikTok.
Partially Blocked: The Gray Zone
These services work sometimes, partially, or with significant limitations. This is where most travelers get confused — the app seems to work, then suddenly doesn't.
| Service | What Works | What Doesn't | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Text messages, image sharing | Voice calls, video calls | GFW specifically targets VoIP protocols | |
| Zoom | May connect initially | Frequent disconnects, poor quality | GFW throttles encrypted video traffic |
| Microsoft Teams | Chat sometimes | "Connecting…" loop for calls | Similar VoIP targeting |
| Spotify | Offline playback (pre-downloaded) | Streaming in real-time | Streaming servers blocked |
| Wikipedia | English articles sometimes | Chinese Wikipedia always blocked | Selective URL filtering |
| Slack | Text channels sometimes | Notifications unreliable, calls blocked | Throttling of foreign SaaS |
| Skype | Text chat sometimes | Voice/video calls fail | VoIP targeting |
| Outlook.com | Email works | May be slow | Not fully blocked but throttled |
| China version shut down; global version restricted | Most features | Pulled out of China in 2021 |
Why "Partially Blocked" Is Worse Than "Fully Blocked"
When an app is fully blocked, it fails immediately — you know you need a VPN. Partially blocked services give you a false sense of security: WhatsApp sends your text, so you think everything's fine. Then you try to call home and it fails. Or Zoom connects, but drops every 5 minutes during an important meeting.
Our advice: If a service is even partially blocked, use a VPN for it. Don't rely on partially working services for anything important.
What Works Without a VPN
Good news: everything you need for daily life in China works fine without a VPN.
Communication
| Service | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| ✅ Full | China's super app — messaging, payments, mini-programs | |
| Apple iMessage | ✅ Full | Works between Apple devices via phone number |
| FaceTime | ✅ Full | Audio and video calls |
| SMS | ✅ Full | Standard text messages |
| Phone calls | ✅ Full | Standard cellular calls |
Navigation
| Service | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Apple Maps | ✅ Full | Best navigation for foreigners — works without VPN |
| Baidu Maps | ✅ Full | Chinese only, most accurate real-time data |
| Amap / Gaode (高德) | ✅ Full | Chinese only, excellent transit routing |
Payments & Shopping
| Service | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Alipay | ✅ Full | Accepts foreign credit cards |
| WeChat Pay | ✅ Full | Accepts foreign credit cards |
| Taobao | ✅ Full | Chinese Amazon — works fine |
| JD.com | ✅ Full | Major e-commerce platform |
Travel & Transport
| Service | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Trip.com | ✅ Full | Book trains, flights, hotels |
| DiDi | ✅ Full | China's Uber — ride hailing |
| 12306 | ✅ Full | Official train booking |
| Meituan | ✅ Full | Food delivery, local services |
| Dianping | ✅ Full | Restaurant reviews (Chinese Yelp) |
Email & Cloud
| Service | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| iCloud | ✅ Full | Apple email, cloud storage, photos |
| Outlook.com | ✅ Mostly | Works but may be slow |
| Yahoo Mail | ✅ Mostly | Works but may be slow |
| OneDrive | ⚠️ Slow | Accessible but slow |
Banking & Finance
| Service | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Most international banking apps | ✅ Full | Chase, HSBC, Citi, etc. |
| Wise (TransferWise) | ⚠️ Partial | App sometimes works, web blocked |
| PayPal | ⚠️ Partial | May be slow |
What Surprises Tourists Most
These are the things first-time visitors don't expect:
1. Google Maps Loads — But Gives Wrong Locations
Google Maps may appear to work in China, but there's a deliberate GPS offset (about 50–500 meters) applied to mapping data. Your blue dot shows you in the wrong place. Directions are inaccurate. Use Apple Maps instead — it works correctly without a VPN.
2. WhatsApp Text Works — But Calls Don't
You send a WhatsApp message and it goes through. You think everything's fine. Then you try to call your family and it fails. The GFW specifically blocks VoIP protocols while allowing text to pass through.
3. You Can't Download New Apps
Google Play Store is blocked. Apple's App Store works but some apps aren't available on Chinese App Store. Download all apps you'll need before arriving in China.
4. Hotel WiFi May Block VPNs
Some hotel WiFi networks detect and block VPN traffic. If your VPN won't connect on hotel WiFi, switch to mobile data.
5. "Works" Doesn't Mean "Works Well"
Even unblocked international services (Outlook, Yahoo, Amazon) are often very slow because traffic routes through international cables that are intentionally throttled. Local Chinese apps are always faster.
6. China Has Its Own Versions of Everything
| Blocked App | Chinese Replacement | Works Without VPN? |
|---|---|---|
| Google Search | Baidu (百度) | ✅ |
| Google Maps | Apple Maps / Baidu Maps / Amap | ✅ |
| YouTube | Bilibili (B站) / Douyin (抖音) | ✅ |
| WeChat (微信) | ✅ | |
| Instagram / Twitter | Xiaohongshu (小红书) / Weibo (微博) | ✅ |
| WeChat Moments | ✅ | |
| Spotify | QQ Music / NetEase Music | ✅ |
| Netflix | iQiyi / Youku | ✅ |
| Amazon | Taobao / JD.com | ✅ |
| Uber | DiDi (滴滴) | ✅ |
| Yelp | Dianping (大众点评) | ✅ |
| ChatGPT | Baidu ERNIE / Kimi / Doubao | ✅ |
How to Test If a Website Is Blocked
Before your trip, test whether specific sites are accessible from China:
| Tool | URL | What It Does |
|---|---|---|
| GreatFire Analyzer | en.greatfire.org/analyzer | Tests URLs from multiple Chinese cities, shows block method |
| BlockedInChina.net | blockedinchina.net | Quick test from Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen servers |
| Comparitech Test | comparitech.com/privacy-security-tools/blockedinchina | Real-time accessibility check with response times |
Limitation: These tools test from servers, not from actual phones on mobile networks. Results may differ from your actual experience (especially for apps vs websites). The most reliable test is asking someone currently in China.
Before You Go: Preparation Checklist
Essential Setup (Do Before You Fly)
- [ ] Install a VPN (ExpressVPN, Astrill, or LetsVPN) — test it works
- [ ] Install a backup VPN — in case the primary one fails
- [ ] Download Apple Maps — best navigation in China without VPN
- [ ] Set up Alipay — link your international credit card
- [ ] Create WeChat account — you'll need it for everything in China
- [ ] Download DiDi — for ride hailing
- [ ] Download Trip.com — for train/flight bookings
- [ ] Save important documents locally — don't rely on Google Drive or Dropbox
- [ ] Download offline maps — Apple Maps or Maps.me
- [ ] Download offline translation — Google Translate language pack or Apple Translate
- [ ] Download entertainment — Netflix shows, Spotify playlists, podcasts
- [ ] Update all apps — app stores may not work in China
- [ ] Screenshot hotel address in Chinese — for DiDi drivers
Email Preparation
If you use Gmail, do this before you leave:
- [ ] Set up email forwarding from Gmail to Outlook or Yahoo (both work in China)
- [ ] Or set up a Gmail auto-responder with your alternative contact method
- [ ] Save important emails locally as PDFs
Work Preparation
If you need to work in China:
- [ ] Google Workspace users: Download all critical docs to your laptop
- [ ] Zoom users: Install VPN on laptop too (Zoom works poorly without VPN)
- [ ] Slack users: Set up Slack email notifications as backup
- [ ] GitHub users: Clone important repos before arrival (GitHub is sometimes throttled)
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Google blocked in China?
Yes. All Google services are blocked — Search, Gmail, Maps, Drive, YouTube, Translate, Photos, Calendar, Play Store. The only exception: some Google Translate offline features may work if you downloaded the language pack before arriving.
Can I use TikTok in China?
No. The international TikTok app is blocked. China has its own version called Douyin (抖音), which requires a Chinese phone number to register. If you want to use TikTok, you need a VPN.
Does WhatsApp work in China?
Partially. Text messages usually work, but voice and video calls are blocked. For reliable messaging and calls, use WeChat (which works perfectly in China) or iMessage/FaceTime (also work without VPN).
Is ChatGPT blocked in China?
Yes. ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Perplexity, and most international AI tools are blocked. China has domestic alternatives: Baidu ERNIE (文心一言), Kimi (月之暗面), and Doubao (豆包) — but these are in Chinese.
Does Netflix work in China?
No. Netflix is fully blocked. Even with a VPN, streaming may be slow due to bandwidth throttling. Download shows before you travel.
What about Skype, Zoom, and Teams?
All three are partially blocked or unreliable. Skype text chat sometimes works but calls fail. Zoom connects but drops frequently. Teams often gets stuck on "connecting." For video calls, use FaceTime (works without VPN) or WeChat video call.
Can I access my online banking?
Most international banking apps (Chase, HSBC, Citi) work fine in China. Some financial tools like Wise (TransferWise) have partial access — the app may work but the website may be blocked.
Is it obvious when something is blocked?
Not always. Blocked sites may show different behaviors: blank page, connection timeout, "server not found" error, or redirection. Some apps silently fail — they appear to load but show no content. The GFW doesn't display a "blocked" message; it just makes the connection fail.
Related Guides:
- Best VPN for China 2026: The Definitive Guide
- VPN Alternatives: eSIM vs VPN vs SIM Card
- How to Set Up a VPN in China: Step-by-Step
- VPN Troubleshooting in China: Fix Connection Issues
- Are VPNs Legal in China? Tourist Guide
- VPN for China by Device: iPhone, Android, Mac & Windows