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

Websites Banned in China - Updated for 2019

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)

Facebook

YouTube

Twitter

Instagram

Tumblr

Pinterest

Reddit

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

XING

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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  1. Kollab
    Reply

    I thought Wikipedia and Aljazeera are also banned in the PRC, aren’t they?

    1. LTL Team HQ
      Reply

      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!

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  4. Is wikipedia banned in china?

    1. LTL Team HQ
      Reply

      Currently yes it is Will.

      The situation does change all the time though

      Max

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  8. LTL Team HQ
    Reply

    Our pleasure Reg.

    LTL

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  10. Umberto
    Reply

    With VPN’s doesn’t really make a difference .

    1. Max Hobbs
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      Very true, lucky to have a solution for sure!

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  12. Super useful list. Hope my VPN works

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