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Great Firewall of China 🔥 Websites Banned in China (2024 Edition)
Websites Banned in China || Updated for 2024
Websites banned in China – the updated list for 2024
To VPN or to not VPN? We’ve found out so you don’t have to.
It’s no secret that the Great Firewall of China blocks many popular sites used in the Western world, making them difficult/impossible to access without the aid of a VPN.
But which sites are still accessible, and which sites are now exiled behind the Great Firewall?
In this post, we’ll cover a list of the most popular sites and tell you whether they are blocked or readily available in China.
It’s worth noting this can change so be aware, but we will keep this post up to date so you have the most recent news.
Let’s start with the main websites before going into a big list of websites blocked in China.
Websites Blocked in China || Google
Websites Blocked in China || Facebook
Websites Blocked in China || YouTube
Websites Blocked in China || Instagram
Websites Blocked in China || Tiktok
Websites Blocked in China || Twitter
Websites Blocked in China || Whatsapp
Websites Blocked in China || A Full list of Blocked Sites in China
Websites Blocked in China || FAQs
Google in China
Nearly all Google services are blocked in China. This includes Gmail and the ability to use a simple Google search.
If you don’t have a VPN you’ll have to get off Google and make Bing or Yahoo your new home browser! Or, head to the Chinese Google equivalent Baidu for a real Chinese experience.
Some services, however, such as Google Translate, and Google Maps, are unblocked and open for use in China.
This does change often though, so it’s worth trying or getting information from people in China right now if you are not sure.
However, we do strongly recommend downloading Baidu Maps and using that instead of Google Maps during your time in China. Alternatively, download Maps.Me for an offline experience.
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Facebook in China
Facebook, just like many other social media sites, is blocked in China.
Instead, Chinese people use the alternative of WeChat (微信 – Wēixìn) to be social, which is widely seen as China’s answer to WhatsApp – but with its social media style “wall” and ability to do almost anything on the app… It’s so much more!
This Chinese app is a completely must-have Chinese app if you’re coming to visit or live in China.
Youtube in China
Youku (优酷 – Yōu kù) is the Chinese version of YouTube and works just like everyone’s favourite video sharing website.
You can upload, watch, comment on, and like various videos.
Of course, it’s all in Chinese so brush up on your Chinese skills!
Instagram in China
Chinese social media has various platforms, but there isn’t quite one that rivals Instagram exactly – rather, several.
The video market has hit China big time – with the public no longer entertained by simple pictures.
China loves short Vine-like videos, and live-streaming. A couple of popular video apps are Douyin 抖音 and Kuaishou 快手.
TikTok in China
Before you shout at your screen “But isn’t TikTok Chinese?!” there are some key distinctions to make.
Yes, TikTok is owned and run by Chinese mega-company Bytedance.
However, the TikTok that can be accessed in Mainland China and the Tiktok that can be accessed outside of China are not the same.
👉 In China, people use 抖音 (Dǒu yīn)
抖音 functions in more or less the same way as TikTok and looks the same. However, users can only sign up with a Chinese ID or phone number. There are also stronger restrictions on live streaming and the content that can be posted.
So in short, to access the version of TikTok that you know and love back home, you will need a VPN.
Twitter in China
微博 (Weibo) is China’s answer to the lack of Twitter. Similar to Twitter, users have a limited number of characters to express their opinions and thoughts.
Posts are usually about personal lives, rather than touching on political views and current news.
Whilst Twitter recently extended its character limit to allow for longer tweets Weibo is yet to follow suit.
This Chinese app is a great one to have and a good way to practice your Chinese.
WhatsApp in China
As mentioned above, since WhatsApp is banned in China (and has been for a few years now) China has it’s own version, and in my opinion better version, called WeChat.
On this platform, there are many features that WhatsApp users are missing out on.
Not even touching the fact that you can do your shopping, order a taxi and get a rental bike all from the app…
Websites Blocked in China || List of Sites Banned in China
Sometimes websites get blocked and unblocked. For example, the BBC was banned by China, and then re-instated.
You never quite know!
So, here’s a comprehensive, up-to-date list of all of the websites banned in China.
Updated for 2023
Google services (most Google services)
YouTube
Tumblr
Quora
Netflix
Amazon (Amazon Japan, Amazon Germany)
The New York Times
BBC
The Guardian
Bloomberg
The Economist
TIME
ABC News
Wall Street Journal
The Epoch Times
Clubhouse
Blogspot
T.co
Adult content sites
FC2
GitHub
The Pirate Bay
Daily Motion
Dropbox
Vimeo
SoundCloud
Archive.org
Scribd
isoHunt
Yomiuri
Ustream.tv
LazyGirls
StartPage
Plurk
SBS Radio
Boxun
Le Soir
New Tang Dynasty Television
WikiLeaks
OpenVPN
AllMovie
Strong VPN
Pure VPN
Amnesty International
Radio Australia
Reporters Without Borders
Falun Dafa
Minghui
LiveStation
Twister
VPN Coupons
Elephant VPN
Tibet Post
Viet-Nam California Radio
Australia Tibet Council
Central Tibetan Administration
DuckDuckGo
Flickr
Badoo
Periscope
The Cantonese Independent Magazine
SlideShare
Mega
Disqus
Reuters
Radio Free Asia
BigCommerce
GreatFire
Torproject
Pixiv
Quozr
Lantern
Discord
HBO
Microsoft OneDrive
Shadowsocks
Twitch.tv
Tapatalk
Don’t see the website you’re looking for here?
You can head to this website which offers a handy tool to test if the website you want to access is blocked by the Great Firewall of China or not.
Or, if you’re in China, you can try to access it. If you can’t – it’s probably blocked. Or you need to sort out your WiFi!
Websites Banned in China || FAQs
Is WhatsApp blocked in China?
As of 2020, yes it is, you need a VPN to access WhatsApp in China.
If you cannot use Gmail, what do you recommend?
If you download a VPN you’ll be able to use Gmail but we also recommend having another email account, perhaps with Outlook for example.
Outlook is not banned in China and you’ll be able to access this with no problems.
Do China have their own version of Social Media?
Yes in most cases they do. For example, Weibo is “China’s Twitter” and WeChat is effectively Facebook and WhatsApp rolled into one.
YouTube is replaced with YouKu.
In many instances, social media in China completely differs from Western social media.
Has the BBC ever been blocked in China?
Yes, it has.
Some websites tend to go through phases of being blocked and not blocked.
This can change at any time.
Is Wikipedia blocked in China?
As of 2020, Wikipedia is blocked in China.
Can I access the Apple Store in China?
Yes you can, there have been no such issues with this to date.
What is the alternative to Google in China?
You can use Bing which is not blocked in China, or for a more immersive experience, use the “China Google”, Baidu.
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15 comments
I thought Wikipedia and Aljazeera are also banned in the PRC, aren’t they?
Wikipedia isn’t but I believe Al Jazeera has been on and off. As of now, it’s banned but these things always change in China!
[…] Great Firewall of China: Websites Banned in China 2019 Edition […]
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Is wikipedia banned in china?
Currently yes it is Will.
The situation does change all the time though
Max
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Our pleasure Reg.
LTL
[…] 75. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, Google and lots of other websites are blocked in China. […]
With VPN’s doesn’t really make a difference .
Very true, lucky to have a solution for sure!
[…] Websites Banned In China (2022 Update) ???? The Complete List […]
Super useful list. Hope my VPN works