There is a lot of misinformation online. For tourists, the situation is straightforward: China's regulations target the providers of these services, not the individuals who use them. There have been no documented cases of foreign tourists being penalized for using a VPN to access the global internet. It's a common and necessary activity for visitors to stay in touch with family and work.

This is the most common mistake travelers make! The Google Play Store and many VPN websites are blocked in China. This makes it extremely difficult, if not impossible, to download the app once you are in the country. It is crucial to purchase, download, and install your chosen tool on all your devices before you leave for China.

We strongly advise against it. Free VPNs rarely work in China as they lack the resources to update their technology against the Great Firewall. More importantly, many free services make money by selling your browsing data or even hosting malware. A reliable, paid service is a small but essential investment for your trip's connectivity and security.