How we test VPNs for China

Why this site exists

Most “best VPN for China” lists are written once, rarely updated, and ranked by commission. VPN availability in China changes week to week, so a list from six months ago can strand you without Google Maps or WhatsApp on day one of your trip. What VPN for China tracks what is working right now.

Where our information comes from

Every week we read the latest VPN threads on r/chinalife, r/China, r/travelchina, r/chinatravel, r/VPN, r/shanghai, r/beijing. We look for first-hand reports from people inside mainland China saying a VPN worked or failed, and note the date, the network and the protocol where they mention it.

A script counts mentions and positive or negative reports for each VPN to help us spot changes, but it never changes a status on its own. Every status is reviewed and set by hand.

How a status is decided

• Working: most recent first-hand reports say it connects and stays connected.
• Hit or miss: reports are mixed, or it works only with particular protocols or servers.
• Mostly blocked: most recent reports say it fails, whatever the provider claims.

Changes are recorded with the date on our weekly status log.

Independence

We are not affiliated with any VPN provider, and providers cannot pay to change their status. Nothing here is guaranteed. Blocking in China changes constantly, so always carry a backup.