China

[jakeblu]

My son is going to China for a year and I was looking for solutions for him regarding the blocking of certain websites i.e. Facebook, Skype etc.

I have googled it but to be honest I am little unsure the best solutions VPN or proxy?

Any help would be appreciated, recommendations even more so

 

[shreds]

Both my lads have been to mainland China, both last year and this.

VPN would appear to be the way to go.

Is your boy going solo or as part of an organised trip/visit? Organised trips usually have these sort of things all sewn up.

'What App' may be of use.

Also things are somewhat easier in the 'Enterprise Zones' such as HK and around Shenzen.

Interestingly conventional texting back to UK is probably quicker than in this country!

 

[jakeblu]

Both my lads have been to mainland China, both last year and this.

VPN would appear to be the way to go.

Is your boy going solo or as part of an organised trip/visit? Organised trips usually have these sort of things all sewn up.

'What App' may be of use.

Also things are somewhat easier in the 'Enterprise Zones' such as HK and around Shenzen.

Interestingly conventional texting back to UK is probably quicker than in this country!

He's going to Shenzhen teaching english for a year, its all been arranged via a registered company in china, flight and visa sorted just need to sort out his internet.

 

[Digisatman]

If I try to view a website that's blocked by Sky, I can open Opera web browser and click on the boost setting(?) which then
Sends it via a vpn which is built in which by passes any block sites.

 

[shreds]

I wouldn't worry about trying to sort him out at this end. It is probably the first thing that will be sorted for him upon arrival.

 

[jakeblu]

If I try to view a website that's blocked by Sky, I can open Opera web browser and click on the boost setting(?) which then
Sends it via a vpn which is built in which by passes any block sites.

That could be interesting, I wonder if it works in china, a quick google search is inconclusive

I wouldn't worry about trying to sort him out at this end. It is probably the first thing that will be sorted for him upon arrival.

I think the company although affiliated to the Chinese education department, may offer some suggestions

 

[shreds]

That could be interesting, I wonder if it works in china, a quick google search is inconclusive


I think the company although affiliated to the Chinese education department, may offer some suggestions

Almost guarantee that the expat community and young Chinese will have solutions......

 

[AshleyC]

If I try to view a website that's blocked by Sky, I can open Opera web browser and click on the boost setting(?) which then
Sends it via a vpn which is built in which by passes any block sites.

Is that the "turbo" option in the menu? im in the same boat, off to china next week and could do with a loophole somewhere to get onto flickr/facebook

 

[Digisatman]

Yep that's the button " turbo"

Try going to a torrent site(axxomovies.org) which should be blocked in the UK, then try turbo button and It should then upload

 

[gibtheo]

I went to China last year. At the time facebook, google and youtube were all blocked amongst many others. I used a UK VPN site and it worked fine, I can't remember the name of it but will try to look it up. It was a paid one but was very cheap, tried a couple of the 'free' ones but they were very unreliable or only offered a trial.

As Ian says, Whatsapp worked fine without a VPN, it's ideal for text messages and sending pics. Now it has a voice call feature which it didn't have when I was there so not sure if that'll work.

Also, if he has a UK VPN he'll be able to watch BBC iplayer etc as it basically tricks your computer into thinking that it's in the UK.

 

[rich_]

Hi there.

From my experience a VPN out of China can help circumvent the governments blocks. Sometimes that traffic may be slower though.

Some of the VPN providers software aren't working 100% with windows 10 so beware!

 

[jakeblu]

I went to China last year. At the time facebook, google and youtube were all blocked amongst many others. I used a UK VPN site and it worked fine, I can't remember the name of it but will try to look it up. It was a paid one but was very cheap, tried a couple of the 'free' ones but they were very unreliable or only offered a trial.

As Ian says, Whatsapp worked fine without a VPN, it's ideal for text messages and sending pics. Now it has a voice call feature which it didn't have when I was there so not sure if that'll work.

Also, if he has a UK VPN he'll be able to watch BBC iplayer etc as it basically tricks your computer into thinking that it's in the UK.

Hi there.

From my experience a VPN out of China can help circumvent the governments blocks. Sometimes that traffic may be slower though.

Some of the VPN providers software aren't working 100% with windows 10 so beware!

Thanks for that guys. Much appreciate the advice.

 

[hsp70]

For talking to your son try wechat. It's the most popular messaging app in China and won't require VPN. It can do everything Skype can. Text, voice, video. No doubt your son will be using it as he meets local people there.