Content

• Steps
• Method 1 of 3: Using a VPN
• Method 2 of 3: Via proxies
• Method 3 of 3: Via Tor
• Tips
• Warnings

One of the biggest problems facing tourists in China is the Chinese government's ban on accessing Internet sites. In particular, this applies to popular social networks like Facebook, Twitter and YouTube, which are blocked by government firewalls and other restrictions. If you would like to share your travel experiences with your family and friends, read this article and you will learn how to bypass the blocking and access the desired site.

Steps

Method 1 of 3: Using a VPN

1. 1 Find the VPN service that suits your needs. A VPN (Virtual Private Network) is an encrypted connection to a remote server that allows you to access the Internet by bypassing restrictive firewalls. VPN affects all your traffic, which means Skype and other messaging services will also not be blocked by firewalls. VPN is not free, but besides the annual payment, you can choose a monthly subscription, which is very convenient for tourists. Below is a list of the most popular VPN services:
   • StrongVPN
   • ExpressVPN
   • WiTopia
   • BolehVPN
   • 12VPN
2. 2 Make sure the VPN you choose works in China. Some of the biggest VPN servers have been blocked by the Chinese government and are no longer available. Check the company you are registering with and read reviews of their online service.
   • BestVPN.com is the site for the most up-to-date information on the most reliable VPN services currently available in China.
3. 3 Download the required program. Some VPN services, like WiTopia, will provide you with a VPN client that needs to be installed on your computer. Other services, such as StrongVPN, will provide you with connection information that you can enter into the connection manager on your Windows or Mac computer.
   • Ideally, you should download and install a VPN program before traveling to China. Most of the well-known VPN programs are blocked, preventing you from registering or downloading the client. Setting up a VPN outside of China will make it easier for you to contact support in case of problems.
   • Some VPN services provide mobile apps that you can use on your iPhone, iPad, or Android device.
4. 4 Connect to VPN. Start the client or enter the VPN information into the connection manager of your operating system. The VPN clients provided by these services are already configured and only need your login.
   • For Windows users. Search for a VPN on your computer, and then select "Set up a virtual private network (VPN) connection" (for Windows Vista / 7 users) or "Add VPN connection" (for Windows 8 users). Enter your connection details. Your VPN service should have provided you with a server to connect to, as well as a username and password. Enter this information into your VPN connection settings.
   • For Mac OS X users: Click the Apple menu and choose System Preferences. Select "Network". At the bottom of the list, click on the "Add (+)" button, and then select the VPN from the list. Select the type of VPN you are going to connect to. The connection type must have been provided to you by the VPN service. Enter your VPN connection details, including the server you are connecting to, as well as a username and password.
   • Click on the "Connect to VPN" button. Most VPNs connect automatically. If you are unable to establish a connection, contact VPN support to resolve the issue.
5. 5 Go to Facebook. Once your VPN is connected, you can go to any blocked site that was previously denied access, as well as use any Internet program like Skype. You may notice that the connection speed will be slow, but this is normal due to the distance between you and the VPN service.

Method 2 of 3: Via proxies

1. 1 Try free proxy servers. A proxy is a site that is often located far away from you and allows you to access other sites. Therefore, if your proxy is located in the United States, and you will enter Facebook through it, it will be the same if you were just in the United States. On this site you can find a list of free proxy servers: http://hidemyass.com/proxy-list.Before moving on to paid proxy servers, we recommend that you try these first. But you may find that they are not very helpful in accessing Facebook from China for the following reasons:
   • China continues to find and block these proxy servers.
   • These proxies are often poorly programmed to work with social media technology.
2. 2 Try a secure proxy. The proxy I used, which works pretty well for Facebook and other social networks, is called the Proxy Center (https://www.proxy-center.com). It has a free trial so you can try it before paying for something or even giving them your email address. The advantage of such a proxy (compared to the VPN, which we talked about above) is that you do not need to install anything on your computer - it is completely browser based.

Method 3 of 3: Via Tor

1. 1 Download the Tor program. Tor is a free public network that keeps you anonymous while you browse. Information bounces off many different nodes that exist all over the world. This program allows you to bypass any firewalls and blockages installed on the connection. The disadvantage of this system is that sites load slowly, as the data must travel a long distance to reach you.
   • Tor is a standalone program that does not need to be installed. You can write it to a USB flash drive and insert it into your computer. This program works on Windows, Mac and Linux operating systems.
2. 2 Open your browser. Tor is a modified version of Firefox, so they have a similar interface. After opening the program, you will see a window that displays the connection status. The browser will open when the connection is established.
   • Only traffic sent through the Tor browser (Firefox) will be sent over the Tor network. This means that Internet Explorer, Chrome, Safari and any other browser will not be anonymized over the Tor network. Opening a regular Firefox installation will also not work with this program.
3. 3 Check if there is a connection. When the browser window opens, you should see a page confirming a successful connection to Tor. You can now visit sites that have been blocked. Closing your browser window will also stop Tor from running.
   • While data on the Tor network is encrypted, it cannot be decrypted when it leaves that network. This means that any secure transactions are just as vulnerable as when browsing the Internet through a regular browser. Only disclose personal information on sites that have SSL, Secure Sockets Layer enabled. Instead of HTTP: //, you will see HTTPS: //, and in the address bar of your browser, you will see a combination lock.

Tips

• It is highly recommended that you change the passwords of all the services you visit in China when you leave China.

Warnings

• Bypassing the Chinese government's firewall is technically illegal and could lead to legal repercussions, although browsing Facebook is unlikely to cause major problems. Use this article at your own risk.