Let me add another data point: Here in Shanghai no more gmail without vpn.

What a sad day and it really makes me feel unwelcome :(

Although internet in china can be a pain, including occasional gmail 'outages', I don't think one generally needs a vpn to access email, most of the time. I just checked my gmail (in bj) without vpn to see if anything had changed, and all was well.

tb

The last couple of weeks I have had some terrible problems with Google and Google Translate specifically. I always maintain at least one account for the periods of time when Beijing is messing about with the Wall. And since a poitically sensitive time is quickly approaching, I half expect it to happen again.

It helps too when dealing with attachments on gmail, helps increase reliability with uploads... And the one I use works over ChinaUnicom's 3G. Plus, how else are you going to access your Netflix queue if you don't have a VPN.

just to add some current status, I'm currently in Shanghai at a hotel and the following does not seem to work
- Facebook
- Twitter
- Instagram

All else - google, google docs, skype, FT(!) and Gmail all seem to work the same as if I was at home

We get these most of the time, though Google Docs can be fickle on occasion.

This one is surprising -- I've never had any trouble accessing Instagram via my Unicom 3G SIM, and many of my Chinese friends have been using it for years without problems. As recently as a few days ago, I was using it in SH without problems.

There has been some recent speculation that the FB buyout of Instagram might result in a GFW block, and it would be sad if this had actually happened.

I've had trips to Shanghai when even Yahoo Sports wouldn't load. Google sites are a constant target since the unpleasantness from a few years ago. I'm sure the gov is constantly probing, experimenting. They're flailing at shadows and wind rustling. Probably not in a good mood today after their 'new, improved' education for HK got shot down.

I couldn't access my yahoo fantasy football leagues on Friday. Today, no problem. It's strange these off and on outages.

Same thing happened to me a few yrs ago - was there for the tennis tournament - tried to do my 'fantasy' picks - no luck (only had one day to make the picks so didn't retry). Maybe it's a word (and its other meaning) that gets added scrutiny.