May 24, 2019, 11:11 am
Last edit by: moondog
If you want to use sites like Google, FB, and Twitter in China, you need a means to bypass government imposed blocks.
Roaming on your home country's network works like a charm, but this can be slow and/or expensive.
Most of us use VPNs or Shadowsocks (the latter requires a bit more legwork because you need to find, and pay for, a good server on your own you want good results).
While this topic is not illegal, we have definitely noticed that over plugging solutions that work well often results in diminished performance (because this makes them targets).
As such, my hope is that we can refrain from using buzzwords or complete company names in this thread. By way of example, "E" is impossible to catch via search, while the company name is easy.
Roaming on your home country's network works like a charm, but this can be slow and/or expensive.
Most of us use VPNs or Shadowsocks (the latter requires a bit more legwork because you need to find, and pay for, a good server on your own you want good results).
While this topic is not illegal, we have definitely noticed that over plugging solutions that work well often results in diminished performance (because this makes them targets).
As such, my hope is that we can refrain from using buzzwords or complete company names in this thread. By way of example, "E" is impossible to catch via search, while the company name is easy.
Best and Fast VPN for China ?
Aug 29, 2019, 2:37 am
#197
Join Date: May 2010
Location: AVP & PEK
Programs: UA 1K 1.9MM
Posts: 6,362
Exp is declining in reliability/usability, IME.
I still have it, but will use others more and more.
The issue with VPNs in China seems to be, that if they become too popular they suffer the wrath of efforts of having them blocked.
Then, another new VPN comes along to take its place, and it works VERY well until it gets too popular.
So, I am not going to post the two other VPNs that I use with much success in China, because I am totally selfish and do not want to share bandwidth with anyone, nor want them to become too popular!
I still have it, but will use others more and more.
The issue with VPNs in China seems to be, that if they become too popular they suffer the wrath of efforts of having them blocked.
Then, another new VPN comes along to take its place, and it works VERY well until it gets too popular.
So, I am not going to post the two other VPNs that I use with much success in China, because I am totally selfish and do not want to share bandwidth with anyone, nor want them to become too popular!
Sep 1, 2019, 11:33 pm
#199
Join Date: Aug 2019
Posts: 6
hello everyone! i found this website which is referring that currently PureVPN is among the best. soon i need to go china for further studies i need recommendations.
here is the weblink [ https://www.cheapchinavpn.com/].....
here is the weblink [ https://www.cheapchinavpn.com/].....
Sep 2, 2019, 12:59 am
#200
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Shanghai
Posts: 42,058
I tried out Pure earlier this year, and was not impressed. That having been said, the key thing I've learned about this topic over time is that there is no one size fits all solution. Relevant variables include: your location, proximity (not necessarily straight line distance) to the servers you connect to, your own server resources (in the case of protocols like shadowsocks), your device type(s), speed v reliability, Netflix access...
Exp remains my favorite, though some of my Chinese friends think it is needlessly expensive compared to what the services they use. And, I must admit that Exp is not immune to weak areas and bad days. I stick by them because their customer service people are awesome, and always stay with me on chat until I can at least get on gmail.
Exp remains my favorite, though some of my Chinese friends think it is needlessly expensive compared to what the services they use. And, I must admit that Exp is not immune to weak areas and bad days. I stick by them because their customer service people are awesome, and always stay with me on chat until I can at least get on gmail.
Oct 1, 2019, 8:20 am
#201
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Manchester, United Kingdom
Programs: Hilton Gold, Priority Club Blue, SPG Gold, Sofitel Gold, FB Ivory, BA Blue
Posts: 8,479
Testing out ExpressVPN. Couple of observations:
- Great if you can connect.
- Over the hotel WiFi it is blocked. Thankfully, some cheeky use of corporate VPN got around that (of course, emailed our IT and asked for forgiveness "after" the event)...
- I've not yet tried it with the Unicom SIM I picked up at the airport (will be getting around to that).
- With roaming SIMs, it's not always needed.
Oct 1, 2019, 8:51 am
#202
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: SF Bay Area
Programs: UA MileagePlus (Premier Gold); Hilton HHonors (Gold); Chase Ultimate Rewards; Amex Plat
Posts: 6,680
I'm not sure how anyone makes any money. Unicom apparently now charges about US$5-10 for 15-20 GB now, and I believe my wife's parents pay something like US$5-10/month for their cable modem or DSL connection.
So Exp is pretty expensive in comparison to those prices, although not very expensive in the big picture. Hmm...that gives me an idea. If Donald Trump reads this post (okay probably not lol), then I would suggest that we consider the cost of a VPN as a "tariff" on Google/Youtube/etc. and we calculate its percentage relative to the cost of internet access in China. Then we impose equal % tariffs on high tech goods coming out of China, until China drops its "tariffs" on our companies. And unlike Trump's usual unpredictability, this would be a specific line item grievance with a specific action that needs to be taken to get both sides to drop their silly tariffs, namely, stop blocking our companies' websites and we'll stop taxing yours.
Testing out ExpressVPN. Couple of observations:
- Great if you can connect.
- Over the hotel WiFi it is blocked. Thankfully, some cheeky use of corporate VPN got around that (of course, emailed our IT and asked for forgiveness "after" the event)...
- I've not yet tried it with the Unicom SIM I picked up at the airport (will be getting around to that).
- With roaming SIMs, it's not always needed.
Oct 1, 2019, 12:28 pm
#203
Join Date: Mar 2013
Posts: 506
So I get data gets tunneled through to your home network but doesn't it pass through Chinese networks first? Are you sure my data is 100% encrypted and unreadable by Chinese authorities?
Oct 1, 2019, 12:43 pm
#204
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: SF Bay Area
Programs: UA MileagePlus (Premier Gold); Hilton HHonors (Gold); Chase Ultimate Rewards; Amex Plat
Posts: 6,680
Yes, I'm sure. No company is going to allow anyone, not even a roaming partner, to tamper with the data in transit, because billing integrity depends on it. I think what might be happening here is that your DNS cache might have been poisoned or your system might be trying to use a Chinese DNS server (perhaps because it was on a Chinese Wifi hotspot), despite the fact that your data is being tunneled elsewhere. Turning on a VPN likely overrides the DNS settings, and turning it off restores them to whatever they were before you turned on the VPN.
Oct 1, 2019, 12:49 pm
#205
Join Date: Mar 2013
Posts: 506
Yes, I'm sure. No company is going to allow anyone, not even a roaming partner, to tamper with the data in transit, because billing integrity depends on it. I think what might be happening here is that your DNS cache might have been poisoned or your system might be trying to use a Chinese DNS server (perhaps because it was on a Chinese Wifi hotspot), despite the fact that your data is being tunneled elsewhere. Turning on a VPN likely overrides the DNS settings, and turning it off restores them to whatever they were before you turned on the VPN.
Oct 4, 2019, 6:57 pm
#206
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Manchester, United Kingdom
Programs: Hilton Gold, Priority Club Blue, SPG Gold, Sofitel Gold, FB Ivory, BA Blue
Posts: 8,479
My CMLink SIM is potentially an exception to all this. CMLink is a UK based MVNO (virtual operator) owned by China Mobile. MVNOs vary from piggybacking on the network totally to having some of their own equipment (i.e. voice mail system, SMSC and potentially data billing equipment). Whether they'd bother though, I don't know. Even my BT Mobile SIM allows me 500GB per day (at a rather pricey £7 per day).
Oct 21, 2019, 9:23 pm
#209
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2010
Programs: DL, OZ, AC, AS, AA, BA, Hilton, Hyatt, Marriott, IHG
Posts: 19,905
You’re probably right! Are you subscribing to any service?
Btw, until I started staying at Marriott properties recently, I was never able to use the hotel’s wifi since I don’t have a Chinese number. A lot of sites are still blocked. Also the speeds aren’t too good at any of the places that I have stayed in.
Btw, until I started staying at Marriott properties recently, I was never able to use the hotel’s wifi since I don’t have a Chinese number. A lot of sites are still blocked. Also the speeds aren’t too good at any of the places that I have stayed in.
Oct 21, 2019, 9:48 pm
#210
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Shanghai
Posts: 42,058
You’re probably right! Are you subscribing to any service?
Btw, until I started staying at Marriott properties recently, I was never able to use the hotel’s wifi since I don’t have a Chinese number. A lot of sites are still blocked. Also the speeds aren’t too good at any of the places that I have stayed in.
Btw, until I started staying at Marriott properties recently, I was never able to use the hotel’s wifi since I don’t have a Chinese number. A lot of sites are still blocked. Also the speeds aren’t too good at any of the places that I have stayed in.