Imagine landing in Beijing after 14 hours on a plane. You go to your hotel haggard and hungry, shower, and plop on the bed, phone poised to connect to wi-fi. You want to send family a quick message telling them you’ve arrived on the other side of the world safe. The screen is loading, loading and then blank. Frustrated the wireless is so despicable, you realize only certain websites have a problem and others are fast and clear. Then you think you remember hearing something about internet restrictions in China in particular… You’ve just ran face first into the Great Firewall of China.
I’m not sure how I missed this in my research before touching down in China for a Yangtze River adventure. All the websites and apps we use on a daily basis in the States are simply not accessible there. The Chinese government restricts citizen use of any website or social media that may not align with official interests.
But one of the best parts about traveling is sharing your pictures and experiences with your friends and family! Surely, there must be some way to access Facebook, Twitter, and even Gmail while visiting and learning all about China and their culture. Here are the things I wish I knew before landing in China:
If you set up your phone with your carrier prior to travel, it will connect to whatever websites you want.
I’ve never wanted to spend the money to have my phone switched over to an international plan for a vacation. It has always seemed pricy and unnecessary to me, especially in a world where wireless internet is so common and there are hundreds of free messaging apps accessible without cellular data. I’ve always preferred to spend that extra money on sightseeing or extending my trip by a night or two.
But until I was without my usual connectivity, I never realized how much I really used it before. Especially for AUMTHEWORLD, sharing experiences with readers and staying connected every step of the way is a top priority.
If your phone is set up to work on your US carrier’s network and towers, websites and apps won’t be blocked because your activity is being routed through the US, not through China’s system.
Don’t be like me, frantically e-mailing people at home (from Yahoo! Mail because that is the only one that works…) asking them to update your cell plan for you and trying to compare all the different international data packages while you could be out seeing the sights. Most phone carriers have so many options to choose from that I’m sure there would be a plan to fit anyone’s needs and fall within any budget.
Set up a VPN on your device prior to leaving home to bypass the Great Firewall of China.
For someone who’s not a techie, this could take some time and research, so don’t wait until you’re in-destination to do it.
“VPN” stands for Virtual Private Network. It’s when you pay a small fee to have your internet usage routed through the towers of a different country such as Sweden or Canada, bypassing the Great Firewall of China and allowing you to visit any websites you want.
I personally use NordVPN and have had a great experience. The reason I like this one over the hundreds of other VPN services out there is because it’s so easy to set up. If you travel often, even if you’re not in China, it’s worth it to sign up because doing anything personal directly on a wireless network is always risky. Checking bank information or email from a public wireless connection is like taking your life into your own hands. If you travel often and are thinking of using a VPN to protect yourself and would also like to support AUMTHEWORLD, please click the above link to sign up!
From what I’ve read, this isn’t actually illegal in China and many companies use a VPN to do business with other countries (i.e. sending and receiving e-mails from Gmail or other servers that are blocked in China). I haven’t heard of anyone getting in trouble for it (but don’t say I sent you just in case! 😛 ).
Whether you need to stay connected for work or just want keep up social media, these tips will help you overcome the Great Firewall of China without being as clueless as I was. If you have more insight on this subject, comment below because I’d be happy to learn more!
Jetsetting On,
CAITLYN WITHOUT A COMPASS
For more travel tips and information on China, check out AUMTHEWORLD’s other post
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