Is Google blocked in China?

Google services are completely blocked in mainland China but available in Hong Kong or Macau, where China’s nationwide censorship system, the Great Firewall, does not apply. Even in these regions, however, you may find that search results for sensitive topics are censored by local ISPs. The easiest ways to access the open internet during your trip are to use an eSIM or one of the few VPNs that still work in China.

How to unblock Google in China

At present, all Google services are unavailable from the Chinese mainland. This includes Google Search, Translate, Drive, News, Maps, the Play Store, Gmail, and YouTube. These can still be used if you connect to a Virtual Private Network, tools that encrypt your web traffic and route it through a server in another country. However, authorities are clamping down on people using VPNs to avoid digital censorship, sometimes even issuing fines for visiting blocked sites. 

  1. Sign up for a VPN that still works in China. We recommend NordVPN for its reliability, high speeds, and strong commitment to user privacy.
  2. Install the VPN on any device you plan on bringing to China. Be sure to download it from a reputable source, such as your VPN’s website or the Google Play Store.
  3. Log in using the credentials created during account registration. Remember, you can’t use the Gmail app, so if your VPN sends verification codes to your email, you’ll have to use a different app to retrieve them (iCloud and Outlook work as normal).
  4. Connect to a server in a country outside of China. Nearby locations like Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Singapore tend to be faster, but may also block access to certain websites.
    Screenshot showing how to connect NordVPN to a Hong Kong server
  5. Wait a few seconds for the VPN to connect. From this point on you should be able to access Google services without any issues.   

One alternative is to use an eSIM. If you rely on mobile data while traveling abroad, you can expect significant roaming charges. An eSIM bought in your home country, meanwhile, gives you a set amount of data for a flat fee and ensures that your traffic (while not encrypted) won’t be filtered through Chinese infrastructure, allowing you to beat the Great Firewall without ever installing a VPN.

Why is Google blocked in China?

Google services used to be available in mainland China, but YouTube was blocked in 2009 after footage emerged of Chinese security forces beating Tibetan protesters (China maintains that the footage was fake). Later that year, Google was one of over a dozen US companies targeted by Operation Aurora, a series of cyberattacks originating in China. In response, Google stopped censoring search results from the Chinese mainland. This led to Google Search being blocked in March 2010, with services like Maps and Translate joining it over the next few years.

Is Google available in Hong Kong?

Yes, Google services continue to be available in the special administrative regions (Hong Kong and Macau). However, due to China’s widespread online surveillance, it’s best to avoid searching for anything that could get you into trouble should you return to the mainland. Additionally, it’s vital to realize these regions aren’t completely free from online censorship.

Pro-democracy websites are largely blocked, as are any drawing attention to China’s history of human rights abuses. Self-censorship is rife too, with journalists and activists fearing arbitrary arrest, detention, or harassment from authorities. In fact, Reporters Without Borders, which has measured press freedom for over 40 years, labels China “the world’s largest prison for journalists”. Hong Kong fares slightly better, but still ranks just one place above Syria in terms of press freedom (ranking 140/180 countries globally).

For these reasons, travelers may still want to use a VPN for additional security while visiting Hong Kong or Macau. 

Related: Internet censorship map