How to Get a Chinese IP Address in 2020: Behind the Great Firewall

Not all content is available in every country. Trying to view what you’re used to while you travel can get frustrating. Error messages pop up or a different version of a website shows instead. The only way to get around the restrictions is to change your IP address to one from the given country. In this article, we’re going to show you how to get a Chinese IP address.

Your IP address tells websites you visit where you’re located. If you want to view something that’s restricted to a certain country, you need to be located there to do so. That is unless you change your IP address and spoof your way in.

The restrictions are known as geoblocks. Take Netflix for example. Its library varies depending on what country you are in. That’s because country-based licenses are needed to broadcast shows. Plus, some shows aren’t suitable globally because of language or cultural differences. We explain in more detail in our piece on the Netflix ban.

As part of China’s restrictions, Netflix isn’t available, but you can read our best VPN for Netflix guide if you want access. That said, perhaps you’re a fan of IQiyi, which has been dubbed the Netflix of China or you want to unblock Youku and watch videos there.

There are many countries that censor the internet, but there are so many restrictions in China that many would wonder why you’d want to get an IP address there. Its Great Firewall blocks anything from porn to Google and social media. Even Winnie the Pooh was censored after being likened to Xi Jinping.

It’s basically its own internet. Still, though those blocks are in place, there’s content that can only be viewed in China.

Other reasons why you might need a Chinese IP address include accessing financial accounts. Many banks only allow you to log in to your account from the correct country as a means of combating fraud. Another possibility is that you need to chat with friends or family via the Chinese messaging service WeChat.

Whatever your reason is, you’re going to need to change your IP address to a Chinese one.

How to Get a Chinese IP Address

You could use a proxy to change your IP address. It’s the easiest way to do so, but we don’t recommend it, even if you’re using our best free proxy. There are no security features to keep you safe and your IP address can be traced back to you. Our VPN vs. proxy vs. Tor comparison goes into more detail.

We recommend using a virtual private network. That way, you can change your IP address and you’ll be protected by its security. Plus, your activities will remain private, so long as the VPN has a no-logs policy.

You can pick one from our best VPN list, but you need to make sure it’s appropriate for China. It’ll need to have servers in China, and if you want to stream, it’ll need to have good speeds and unlimited bandwidth.

That said, many VPNs are not good enough to break through the Great Firewall. The Chinese government can detect and block VPN connections. It’s a game of cat and mouse for the providers, which constantly have to recover from blocks. Only a few are dedicated to serving the Chinese market, and even then, most don’t have servers there.

Security is the top factor when choosing a VPN for China, as you can read in our best VPN for China guide. ExpressVPN is the top choice, but NordVPN works in China, too. Both have excellent security and are able to intercept the Chinese internet. That said, neither has servers there, so you still won’t be able to access content restricted to China.

TorGuard is another secure service for China, but it removed its servers from there. The ongoing VPN blockades and restrictions make it difficult for providers to guarantee user privacy. Plus, VPN companies are required to register with the Chinese state and comply with its rules. If they don’t, the service gets blocked.

We’ve found services that do have servers in China, but you may still have problems because they’re not the best. Plus, if they have decided to register with the Chinese state, your privacy is at risk.

PureVPN is a good example. Though it has servers in China, its security and privacy are questionable. Read our PureVPN review to learn more about why we don’t recommend it.

Ivacy

Ivacy can be used to get a Chinese IP address. It has a few hundred servers around the world, including some in Beijing and Shanghai. Its security is good and it has a no-logs policy. Its biggest downfall is its inconsistent speeds, but it does benefit from unlimited bandwidth. It’s also able to get into most streaming services.

Its interface isn’t the best, but you can install it on Windows, macOS, Android and iOS. Up to five connections can be used at one time. If you want to give it a try, there’s a 30-day money-back guarantee. Our Ivacy review has more information on the service.

HideMyAss

HideMyAss will allow you to get a Chinese IP address, too. It has a massive server network that covers 190 countries, with four servers in Beijing. Its security is good and a privacy policy is in place. That said, it keeps connection and disconnection logs. It has adequate speeds and unlimited bandwidth, though, and you can access streaming services.

You can use it on Windows, macOS, Android and iOS with up to five devices connected at a time. You can use the seven-day trial to test it, and there’s a 30-day money-back guarantee. Take a look at our HideMyAss review for more details.

VPNArea

VPNArea’s servers cover 70 countries, and that includes China. The VPN offers good security and doesn’t keep logs. Though they should be okay, its speeds vary, but there are no bandwidth limits. It’s able to get into streaming services, too.

There are easy-to-use clients for Windows, macOS, Android, iOS and Linux. You can connect up to six devices at a time, too. If you take the plunge, you’re covered by a seven-day money-back guarantee, giving you plenty of time to try it. Read our VPNArea review for a better look at the service.

Dangers of Using a Chinese IP Address

If you’re going to use a Chinese IP address, you need to make sure you’re secure for many reasons. Though there are automated mechanisms that control censorship online, millions of human monitors are also used to sift through content and enforce blocks.

Known dissidents are slapped with heavy sentences and citizens can be jailed for their online activities. Criticism of leaders and other online speech is frequently punished, resulting in self-censorship. Posting banned content is also punishable, as is operating a civil society or human rights website.

Intrusive surveillance exists and police can gain access to user data to help with arrests and prosecutions. China’s privacy laws are minimal, and internet and mobile phone communications are monitored.

As a crackdown on circumvention tools, those found selling the tools without a license face penalties. In 2017, Wu Xiangyang was punished for selling VPN services. He received a sentence of over five years in prison and a fine of 500,000 yuan ($78,000).

Plus, you’re always at risk of cybercrime, but using public WiFi puts you at a higher risk. Security isn’t a high priority at hotspots, so you should take steps to protect yourself. A VPN will help, but it’s a good idea to install a decent antivirus, too (read our best antivirus software guide).

Final Thoughts

We hope you now understand how to get a Chinese IP address and the reasons you should do so safely. As in many of our VPN articles, we recommend using a VPN for the best protection.

Ivacy is the top choice for connecting to a Chinese server. With its 30-day money-back guarantee, you’ve got nothing to lose.

Remember, though, VPNs that offer the use of Chinese servers may not have the best security. For that, we recommend using ExpressVPN, which is also covered by a 30-day money-back guarantee.

If you have experience getting a Chinese IP address, pop a comment below to let us know about it. Thank you for reading.