How to use SnapChat in China

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Snapchat is extremely popular application for text and video chats, images sharing, and multimedia with millions of users worldwide. However this fantastic tool is blocked in China as many others similar applications like Viber, Skype, Line, etc.

SnapChat in China: how to use?

Is there any way to unblock Snapchat in China and stay safe and secure?

The short answer is Yes!

There is simple and reliable solution to unblock sites in China and it works great for SnapChat as well.

And this is a VPN – virtual private network. VPN is a secured tunnel that lets to mask your IP address and also encrypt all your traffic. Using vpn you and bypass China’s Internet censorship and avoid all the filters.

VPN can be used on smart phones and tablets operated by iOS and Android.

VPN is very powerful technology for online security and privacy that makes you free in the global network.

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How to use SnapChat on iOS in China

Below you can see simple instructions how to use SnapChat in China.

  1. Click Settings > General > VPN
  2. Tap Add VPN Configuration
  3. Select L2TP VPN and enter you VPN account data. You will receive your VPN server, username and password in the e-mail
    Server address must be exactly as in your account data (without http://, www or any other symbols).
  4. Save your VPN configuration. Once you have created VPN connection you can switch it ON and OFF on the main settings screen

When you are connected to VPN you can enjoy SnapChat without any restrictions.

How to use SnapChat on Android in China

To use SnapChat on your Android device you need to make a vpn connection between you and vpn server. You do not need any additional software or applications. All you need is make a few simple steps:

  1. Tap Settings
  2. Select Wireless & Networks and tap on VPN
  3. Add VPN Network
  4. Input connection name (Sahrzad VPN), select the type of your VPN connection – PPTP VPN, input VPN server address from your account data.
    Please be carefully – don’t use any additional symbols like spaces, http://, www, / …etc in the server address.
  5. Input your Username and password that you received from VPN account service in e-mail.
    Save it and tap Connect

For connection to vpn server:

  1. Select Home > Menu > Settings
  2. Tap Wireless & networks
  3. Tap VPN settings
  4. The VPN connections you have added are present in the list
  5. Tap the VPN you wish to connect to (Sahrzad VPN)
  6. A dialog box will open asking for your credentials, enter them and click connect

When you are connected to VPN, you will see an ongoing notification in the Status bar on your Android device. If you are disconnected, you will receive a notification and an option to go back to the VPN settings section.

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Using a VPN for Snapchat  you can talk to your friends and family via Snapchat without any limits wherever you are.

How to Use Line in China?

line_app_androidAmong a great number of instant messengers and VOIP applications Line is one of the most popular services.
It is leader in China according to Google Trends.

Line is a Japanese application. It is used for instant communications and video calls. It can be used on computers, tablets, and smart phones.

Line offers texts, images, video and audio messages, VoIP conversations, and video conferences.

Others amazing features of Line are Stickers and games.

However Line is not available in China due to Internet censorship. The best solution that works to unblock Line in China is using a VPN Service.

VPN is a Virtual Private Network. This is a secured virtual tunnel that makes you safe and anonymous in the Internet. VPN masks IP address and lets to avoid all geo restrictions.

How to use Line in China

Line is mostly used on Android and iOS devices. It is not difficult to make a vpn tunnel on your gadgets to protect your privacy and bypass Internet censorship.

How to use Line on iOS in China

Only four simple steps are necessary to make a new vpn channel in your iPhone or iPad.

Find the guide below.

  1. Click Settings > General > VPN
  2. Tap Add VPN Configuration
  3. Select PPTP VPN and enter you VPN account data. You will receive your VPN server, username and password in the e-mail
    Server address must be exactlyas in your account data (without http://, www or any other symbols).
  4. Save your VPN configuration. Once you have created VPN connection you can switch it ON and OFF on the main settings screen

When you are connected to VPN you can enjoy Line without any restrictions.

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How to use Line on Android in China

To use Line application on your Android device you need to make a vpn connection between you and vpn server. You do not need any additional software or applications. All you need is make a few simple steps:

  1. Tap Settings
  2. Select Wireless & Networks and tap on VPN
  3. Add VPN Network
  4. Input connection name (Sahrzad VPN), select the type of your VPN connection – PPTP VPN, input VPN server address from your account data.
    Please be carefully – don’t use any additional symbols like spaces, http://, www, / …etc in the server address.
  5. Input your Username and password that you received from VPN account service in e-mail.
    Save it and tap Connect

For connection to vpn server:

  1. Select Home > Menu > Settings
  2. Tap Wireless & networks
  3. Tap VPN settings
  4. The VPN connections you have added are present in the list
  5. Tap the VPN you wish to connect to (Sahrzad VPN)
  6. A dialog box will open asking for your credentials, enter them and click connect

When you are connected to VPN, you will see an ongoing notification in the Status bar on your Android device. If you are disconnected, you will receive a notification and an option to go back to the VPN settings section.

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When you are connected to vpn server you can stay in touch with your friends and family via Line without any limits wherever you are.

Instant messengers in China 2016

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In our modern world communications are extremely important. And instant messengers are very popular today all over the world.

So what are the most popular Instant messengers in China?

Let’s ask Google Trends and compare world’s leaders.

First let’s compare

  • Skype
  • Whatsapp
  • Viber
  • Momo
  • Wechat
  • Line

Among these services Skype, Whatapp and Wechat are leaders but…

Let’s add another Chinese messenger and you will be surprised!


As you can see QQ is number 1 in China!

As for now (January 2016) the next messengers are not blocked in China:

  • QQ
  • Wechat
  • Momo
  • Weixin
  • Whatsapp
  • Youni

Unfortunately, Skype and Viber are blocked in China. A good solution to unblock them – use VPN.

How to Bypass Great Chinese Firewall: simple solutions

     Bypass Chinese Firewall with Sahrzad

Updated: June 2016

These days, there are various ways to unblock restricted sites where ever you are. However,  it becomes difficult when you are in a country like China, where Internet censorship is very strict. Therefore, it is very important that you understand each method before you even try them. From there, you can easily choose the best way to unblock sites in China.

But first, China’s Great Firewall (GFW) is powerful enough in blocking sites related to pornography, gambling, violence and other unsafe topics. The Chinese government also blocks social sites such as Facebook, and Google products including Gmail and YouTube. Below are some tips on how to browse the web anonymously, along with their limitations.

Unblock sites using your browser

web browsers to unblock sites in China

 Browsers such as Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox have proxy extensions or add-ons that actually allow you to unblock restricted sites. They are easy to set-up, no registration required, and most of them are free. Once you activate it, you can now browse the web anonymously and can visit any blocked website. But because we are talking about China, expect that you can easily be detected. Nevertheless, they may work well in other countries.

Proxy servers

tips to unblock sites in China

A proxy server simply acts as a middleman between your computer and the web. The traffic passes through this server, allowing you to browse the web using its IP address. It receives request of Internet connection, finds the requested web page, and forward it to the user without sending a request to the Internet. Generally speaking, proxy servers are easy to use.  However, you are not totally safe because traffic is not encrypted and can easily be intercepted.

TOR browser

tor to unblock sites in China

 Tor, also known as the Onion Router, is free software that allows you to browse the web anonymously. This anonymization service works by sending your traffic to several nodes or relays, which are being operated by volunteers. However, you should understand that Tor only encrypts your anonymity to hide your real IP address and location, and not your web traffic. So if you use Tor in China, there’s really no assurance that your connection will be consistent.

VPN (Virtual Private Network)

Sahrzad VPN unblock sites in China

 Theoretically speaking, VPN works almost the same as the other methods mentioned above. With VPN, your real IP address is hidden along with your geo location. But the best advantage of using VPN is that your web traffic is highly encrypted, thus giving you a more secured Internet connection if you are in China. VPN is also virtually faster than the others, but of course, it depends of the service provider. Paid VPNs are obviously better than the free ones.

Conclusion

The best way to unblock sites in China

Here’s the painful truth. There is really no guarantee that you can always unblock sites in China, including WhatsApp, Line, Viber, Skype and otehrs. In fact, GFW have also blocked many VPNs in the past, and some of them are still blocked until today. This is why you have be very careful in choosing your VPN service provider. But so far, nothing beats VPN in terms of speed, reliability, and security. In fact, more and more travelers prefer using VPN over the rest, especially when they need to go to China.

 

March 2016 updates:

All the following solutions works in China. Below are vpn providers that we tested in 2016 and they work in China:

Sahrzad VPN
 sahrzadlogo
1 week $3.99
1 month $9.99
3 months $27.99
6 months $53.99
1 year $89.99
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VPN Account
 kompany_logo
1 week $3.5
1 month $10
3 months $28
6 months $52
1 year $98
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 Spider VPN (for Android)The Cheapest!
1 week $3
1 month $5
3 months $10
6 months $15
1 year $29.99
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VPN Privacy
1 week $3.5
1 month $10
3 months $28
6 months $52
1 year $98
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Internet censorship in China

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Internet censorship in China  is one the most severe in the world. It is based on a big variety of laws and administrative regulations.

Internet limits in China are considered more extensive and more advanced than in any other country in the world. The governmental authorities not only block website content but also monitor the Internet access of individuals. This called The Great Firewall of China. Today there are about 30,000–50,000 internet police in China employed to enforce Chinese internet laws.

No unit or individual may use the Internet to create, replicate, retrieve, or transmit the following kinds of information:

  1. Inciting to resist or breaking the Constitution or laws or the implementation of administrative regulations;
  2. Inciting to overthrow the government or the socialist system;
  3. Inciting division of the country, harming national unification;
  4. Inciting hatred or discrimination among nationalities or harming the unity of the nationalities;
  5. Making falsehoods or distorting the truth, spreading rumors, destroying the order of society;
  6. Promoting feudal superstitions, sexually suggestive material, gambling, violence, murder;
  7. Terrorism or inciting others to criminal activity; openly insulting other people or distorting the truth to slander people;
  8. Injuring the reputation of state organizations;
  9. Other activities against the Constitution, laws or administrative regulations.

The most popular methods on Intenet blocking in China:

  1. IP blocking. The access to a certain IP address is denied. If the target Web site is hosted in a shared hosting server, all Web sites on the same server will be blocked.
  2. DNS filtering and redirection. The DNS doesn’t resolve domain names or returns incorrect IP addresses.
  3. URL filtering.
  4. Packet filtering

And several others methods.

Also it is known that China blocks many VPN service providers.

That is why it is better to test it before buying.

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How to Access Blocked Websites in China

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Last Update: June 12 2016.

The Great Firewall of China has been blocking more than 2,700 websites for years, and they are still continuously adding more blocked websites. The list of banned websites in China includes Google, YouTube, tons of Wikipedia pages, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter. Skype a is allowed in China, but its version is different from the international version. Line and many others popular VOIP services are blocked in the country. As of 2013, the more than two million people have been closely monitoring Internet activities. This is why you should choose a very reliable VPN service.

Generally speaking, a VPN (Virtual Private Network) allows you to bypass any kind of Internet firewalls including China’s Great Firewall. This means you can easily have access to any website you want. While there are other ways to unblock restricted sites in China, VPN is considered the best option. With VPN for China, your online activities are encrypted so almost no one can intercept them. The level of security you can enjoy depends on the VPN you need. But obviously, you need to pay more for a higher level.

China has no laws against VPNs, but they have blocked a lot of websites of VPN service providers. OpenVPN, which allows users to different ports for bypassing firewalls, was blocked in China sometime between 2011 and 2012. There are also VPNs that are being partially blocked by the Chinese government. For this reason, you should be very careful in choosing a VPN service provider. But again, VPN remains to be far more reliable way to surf the Internet anonymously as compared to the others.

You should also understand that the Great Firewall of China is constantly being updated, which means China gets stricter as time passes by. So, if your traffic is not encrypted the way VPN does, you will only waste your time and money. Apparently, there are also free VPNs and you can also use them. But for obvious reasons, you don’t expect a free service winning against China’s very strict policies. You will also encounter tons of advertisements simply because it needs money for its operational expenses.

So, if you really want to have an access to blocked sites in China, you have to invest money. After all, there are many paid VPNs that offer very affordable service fees but can meet your requirements. The key here is to know first what you really need in a VPN. What websites do you want to visit? Are you going to visit them frequently? Will you also watch videos? Will you use it for your personal needs only? If have a business, will you allow your employees use VPN too? How much is your budget?

When choosing a VPN for China, make sure it can provide immediate customer support. To reduce downtime, choose also the one that can instantly provide you a new IP address in case the first one was blocked. These days, VPNs are already applicable to smartphones. But some of them only work well for iOs but not for Android. So, make sure your VPN has been tested for all operating software. Lastly, your VPN provider should always make regular updates and does not keep users’ log details.