Astrill VPN Works in China, But Only If You Do This First

From social media to news sites to video streaming services, the list of banned websites and services in China would stretch out for kilometers. With search engines like Google blocked, too, even clearly harmless, basic information can be out of reach.

Worse, China also bans most VPNs, aggressively screening for them with deep packet inspection (DPI). Only a select few VPNs can work within the country. My team and I don’t condone any illegal activity. However, you should be aware that the Chinese government focuses on blocking access to VPNs and usually doesn’t go after individuals for using them.

Fortunately, Astrill VPN has what it takes – IF you use one crucial trick. Read on to learn how to set up and use Astrill VPN.

Pro Tip: It’s best to install Astrill VPN before traveling to China since most VPN sites are blocked in the country.

Why Accessing Content in China Is So Hard

The Chinese government blocks access to any website that it deems dangerous or offensive, or that portrays an “un-Chinese” way of life. These terms are defined incredibly broadly, and the bans are enforced on residents and visitors alike.

That means, you won’t be able to access news services, social media, messaging apps like WhatsApp, or any other sites that could be used to organize people or demonstrations.

International news outlets are regularly censored, along with Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, Gmail, and VoIP services. You can use our online tool to see if a specific website is currently blocked in China.

To enforce all these bans, Chinese authorities restrict access to technology that can be used to bypass censorship. It’s impossible to purchase or install a VPN in the country – except for state-authorized VPNs, and those won’t let you privately access your go-to sites and services.

And since the agencies that enforce internet restrictions use DPI to block unapproved VPNs, most VPNs won’t work in China even if you install them before traveling there. However, Astrill VPN has a few very special features that allow it to work in China.

Why Astrill VPN Works in China

Seychelles-based Astrill VPN launched in 2009 with the stated goal of overcoming online censorship worldwide. With that end in mind, the VPN has been designed to support an especially wide range of tunneling protocols.

In addition to the gold standard OpenVPN, Astrill VPN hosts OpenWeb, StealthVPN, Cisco IPSec, IKEv2/IPSec, L2TP/IPSec, and SSTP. The reason this variety is so important is that in spite of its proven security, using OpenVPN in China would be a mistake.

OpenVPN’s one flaw is that it’s easily identifiable under DPI, and that means your unauthorized VPN use will be visible to the authorities. For safe connections in China, we recommend using StealthVPN, which is just as secure but much more difficult to detect.

Before you can choose StealthVPN, however, you need to get the Astrill VPN app for your device. Remember, you can’t sign up for Astrill VPN or download the apps in China! Follow the Quick Guide above to make sure Astrill VPN works without difficulty.

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Astrill VPN's success in China is primarily due to the availability of StealthVPN and a network specifically designed to obscure traffic. These features allow for a secure and private connection. Additionally, the VPN provides numerous other impressive features to enhance your browsing experience.

• Public wi-fi security – added protection when you use shared networks
• Split tunneling (Smart mode) – allows you to access local Chinese sites without the VPN for improved speed, while keeping your international traffic safely hidden
• Customizable kill switch – ensures that your data never leaks to the public internet if your VPN server connection drops
• Strict no-logs policy – guarantees there will never be any record of your activity
• 142 servers across 56 countries – allows you to safely access platforms and websites from anywhere.
• Cross-platform capabilities – support for an unlimited number of simultaneous device connections across all major operating platforms
• Fast connections – to minimize the speed loss caused by the StealthVPN encryption process

Summary

By installing Astrill VPN and choosing the StealthVPN protocol before arriving in China, it’s possible to secure your connection and safely access content.

I want to emphasize once more that I do not endorse or support any illegal activities. It's essential to thoroughly research and understand the laws in China, as well as any other country you may be in, before making a decision regarding VPN usage.

To make sure you get the best possible deal on your Astrill VPN subscription, make sure to visit our coupon codes page. And for more great VPN options to keep your online activity safe, check out our experts’ complete report on the VPNS you can trust in China.