How to Get a Chinese IP Address in 2024: Behind the Great Firewall
Unable to access your favorite Chinese content? Geoblocks are likely the reason. However, you can bypass them using a Chinese IP. If you don’t know how to get a Chinese IP address, we’ll give you a step-by-step guide on how to do it using a VPN.
Written by Arjun Ruparelia (Writer)
Reviewed by Sandra Pattison (Writer, Editor)
Last Updated: 2024-10-23T17:47:37+00:00
All our content is written fully by humans; we do not publish AI writing. Learn more here.
Key Takeaways: How to Get a Chinese IP Address
- Sign up for a VPN that has Chinese servers, like CyberGhost.
- Download the VPN.
- Connect to a Chinese server.
Best VPNs to Get a Chinese IP Address
- CyberGhost — Several virtual servers in China for accessing Chinese services
- Private Internet Access — “Geo-located” virtual China server in Singapore
- HideMyAss — Affordable VPN with virtual Chinese servers
Facts & Expert Analysis:
- You can get a China IP address using a VPN and get access to geoblocked Chinese content.
- The best VPN to get a China IP is CyberGhost. However, if you want something low cost, Private Internet Access is a good alternative.
- Unfortunately, you can’t get a China IP using a safe, reliable free VPN because none of them have free VPN servers in mainland China.
China’s famed Great Firewall blocks many websites and apps, from Google to Facebook. It has its own internet ecosystem, where people use WeChat instead of WhatsApp, Youku instead of YouTube and iQiyi instead of Netflix. These Chinese services have geoblocks that won’t allow access if you’re outside China. If that’s what you want, you need to know how to get a Chinese IP address and how to access Chinese websites.
The overall best way to get a China IP address is using a VPN (virtual private network) that offers virtual servers in China. A virtual server is a server that’s located in one country, but assigns you an IP address that belongs to another country. The setup process is very easy, and you’ll only need to download one of the best VPNs, sign in, choose China, and you’ll have your China IP address right away.
We tested over 20 VPNs, and we found three that could bypass the Great Firewall and had virtual servers for China — CyberGhost came out on top. Stay with us as we talk about the best VPNs to get a Chinese IP, why it’s so hard to find VPNs with servers in China, plus how to set up a VPN to get Chinese IP addresses.
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01/23/2022
Cloudwards.net updated the article to reflect changes and updates to VPN providers.
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11/12/2023
Updated to include our experience with HMA’s refund policy.
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01/20/2024
Added more information on our experience with HMA’s money-back guarantee.
Why Should I Get a China IP Address?
You should get a Chinese IP address if you plan on accessing any Chinese services or media that you can’t get from outside China. You can do lots of things with a Chinese IP address, but some of our favorite reasons are:
Achieve Online Privacy and Security Even as a VPN Novice
- Comprehend the essential role a VPN plays in safeguarding your digital life
- Gain a deep understanding of how VPNs function under the hood
- Develop the ability to distinguish fact from fiction in VPN promotions
- Stream Chinese shows and movies
- Access Chinese social media like WeChat and Weibo
- Work from any location
- Stay safe on public Wi-Fi
- Access gaming servers in China
Getting a Chinese IP address opens a world of possibilities beyond these uses. You can also tap into local e-commerce deals, for example, and stay updated on the best discounts available only in China. You could also use it for various business purposes, such as conducting market research.
Quick Guide: How to Get a Chinese IP Address With a VPN
If you’re trying to watch Chinese TV abroad, access a Chinese online service or play Chinese games, you’ll need a VPN with a Chinese server that can bypass geoblocks. If you’ve never used a VPN, just follow the three simple steps illustrated below.
- Download and Install a VPN
Start by signing up with a VPN service provider that has a Chinese VPN server — we recommend CyberGhost. Next, download and install the VPN’s app for your device.
- Connect to a Server Located in China
Your VPN must have at least one server location in China. Once you’ve installed the VPN app, launch it and search for servers in China. Connect to one of the Chinese servers to get a Chinese IP address.
- Access Chinese Content
Once you’re connected to a server in China, try to access any geoblocked website — for example, Youku.
What Are the Best VPNs With Chinese Servers?
None of the best VPNs have physical Chinese servers as China is committed to punishing VPN providers, although some VPNs like Windscribe use virtual servers for China. Even NordVPN, which has one of the largest server networks, doesn’t have a server in China (read our NordVPN review).
Virtual servers aren’t physically located in China, but are hosted on a virtual machine located outside the country. The virtual servers host software that render tunneling services, just like a physical server would. Except for the piece of hardware, there’s no difference between virtual and physical servers.
Virtual Chinese servers accomplish both goals of keeping your data protected from the Chinese government as well as bypassing the Great Firewall. However, finding a good China VPN that has virtual Chinese servers can be a little tricky. Lucky for you, we’ve done all the legwork and found three of the best VPNs to get a Chinese IP address.
Ideally, you should select a VPN that bypasses the Great Firewall and offers a good combination of speed and security. The services we’ve mentioned come out on top based on factors like speed, security, feature portfolio and overall performance. Here’s a little bit you should know about the features to look for in a reliable VPN provider.
Security & Privacy
You don’t want anybody to be able to intercept your internet traffic, especially if you’re using online banking. A China VPN with good security features ensures that your data is safe.
Features like an automatic kill switch, DNS leak protection and strong encryption make for a secure VPN. You should also look for a strong security protocol. Most VPNs have OpenVPN and IKEv2. You should also look for a VPN that has a strict and transparent no-logs policy, especially when you’re using Chinese services.
Speed
You should also consider the speed you’ll get when you access Chinese content because VPNs almost always slow down your speed. When you connect to a VPN server in China, virtual or physical, your internet traffic will have to travel through that intermediary server.
The speed also depends on other factors like encryption: typically, the stronger the encryption, the lower the speed. The key is to select a fast VPN that can keep the reduction in speed to a minimum. In some cases, you could also experience an increase in speed if your internet service provider had been throttling your speed.
Streaming Services
Getting a Chinese IP address doesn’t guarantee access to geoblocked Chinese content. Some VPNs may not be able to access Chinese TV channels or Chinese sites, even if they have servers in China. Our tests revealed that CyberGhost gets into most major sites like Youku, iQiyi and Baidu.
The 3 Best VPNs for Accessing Chinese Websites
Based on the criteria mentioned above, we selected three best VPNs for China that are best for getting a Chinese IP address. We recommend CyberGhost because it offers an excellent portfolio of features and security, and gets into major Chinese content websites.
1. CyberGhost
into most geoblocked Chinese websites.
Fast
Very Fast
Fast
CyberGhost has one of the largest server networks of any VPN with around 7,800 servers, with 12 virtual servers in China. It gets into all major Chinese sites like iQiyi, Baidu and CCTV. CyberGhost tops the list because it offers a comprehensive feature portfolio that includes split tunneling, dedicated streaming and torrenting servers, and automation features.
It now also has WireGuard, which offers a good combination of speed and security. Plus, it has an excellent user interface that’s easy to get used to. To learn about all features, check out our CyberGhost review.
It uses AES-256 encryption and IKEv2, OpenVPN and WireGuard protocols. Alternatively, you can use ChaCha20 with WireGuard, which is just as secure as AES-256. CyberGhost has a strict no-logs policy too. If you want, you can take it for a spin using its generous 45-day money-back guarantee.
- *The 2-year plan includes 4-months free which breaks down the 56.94 t0 $2.03 per month. *The price under the 2-year plan is billed yearly after the first two years.
- Unlimited GB
- 7
- Yes
2. Private Internet Access
Fast
Fast
Very Fast
Private Internet Access (PIA) is a fast and secure VPN that has servers in over 100 locations, which include virtual server locations in China. It has pretty much all the security features you’d want in a VPN including an automatic kill switch, DNS leak protection, strong encryption and a strict no-logs policy.
PIA has a decent customizable and docked interface. However, it would be better if the interface didn’t close every time you click outside it. PIA also comes with a built-in ad and malware blocker.
If you need more information before deciding, consider reading our PIA review. Alternatively, you can use the 30-day money-back guarantee to try the VPN yourself. If you aren’t satisfied, you can always claim a full refund.
- **$56.94 for the first two years, and yearly thereafter
- 10
- Yes
3. HideMyAss
HideMyAss doesn’t have the largest server count (1,000 servers), but it has servers in 200 countries, with four virtual servers in China. HideMyAss has a user-friendly interface and security features like a kill switch, IP shuffle and AES-256 encryption, but has a questionable privacy policy.
The privacy policy clearly mentions that the user’s originating IP address and domain names will be logged when using the free HideMyAss proxy, even though HideMyAss claims that it’s a no-logs VPN. Plus, HideMyAss is owned by Avast, a company that has collected and sold user data in the past. Read more about its features and privacy in our HideMyAss review, and be sure to check out our HideMyAss alternative guide.
HideMyAss isn’t one of the fastest VPNs either. If you’re streaming HD videos or connected to a distant server, you may experience some buffering. However, HideMyAss has a decent cost, so long as you opt for a long-term plan.
It offers a seven-day free trial and a 30-day money-back guarantee. However, we had a poor experience with the money-back guarantee. Customer support took around three months to reply and send a refund.
- 7-day free trial option
- Unlimited GB
- 5
1-month plan, 6-months plan, 1-year plan, 2-year plan
- Unlimited GB
- 10
Can I Use a Free VPN to Get a Free China IP Address?
Most free VPNs are unreliable and insecure. They lack adequate security features, keep logs or offer slow speeds. This is especially true of the worst free VPNs out there.
There are a few good free VPNs too, but none of them have servers in mainland China. Getting a free China IP address using a VPN with questionable policies is a bad idea. Instead, consider a low-cost alternative like PIA or the 45-day money-back guarantee from CyberGhost.
What Are the Dangers of Using VPNs for a China IP Address?
Freedom House rates China’s internet as “not free.” The Chinese government heavily monitors internet activity and controls internet use in the country. Posting content online against the country’s leadership can put you behind bars. Learn more about VPNs in China in our best VPNs for China guide.
When you use a China IP address and access the Chinese internet, you’re subject to the same intrusive monitoring of online data. However, when you use a secure VPN like CyberGhost, you can worry less about the government getting access to your data because they won’t be able to decrypt it.
Final Thoughts
The easiest way to get a Chinese IP address is using a VPN, and you’ll need a VPN that has virtual Chinese servers. The best VPN for the job is CyberGhost. Free VPNs aren’t a good idea, and none of the free VPNs we recommend have virtual servers in China. Instead, you should consider a low-cost VPN like PIA.
Have you used a China IP address before? If yes, which VPN did you use? Were you able to stream videos without any buffering? Let us know in the comments below, and as always, thanks for reading.
Further Reading
Interested in more content on the topic? Here is an article on the best WeChat VPN, so you can get past China’s firewall and get uncensored access.
If you’re looking to get an IP address in other countries, such as those in Africa, we have covered:
FAQ
VPNs like CyberGhost and Private Internet Access have virtual servers in China. You can get a China IP address using several other VPNs as well, but you should consider the security and speed that the VPN offers, among other things.
Yes, you can. However, not all VPNs that can get you a China IP address will be able to access geoblocked websites. If you want to get a Chinese IP because you’re trying to access geoblocked Chinese websites, your best options are CyberGhost, Private Internet Access or HideMyAss.
There are two reasons why your IP address is based in China. You’re either located in China and your ISP has issued you a Chinese IP address, or you’re using a VPN or proxy and are connected to a server in China.
You’ll first need to get a China IP address by connecting with one of the virtual VPN servers in China. To do this, sign up with a VPN service provider that has virtual China servers, install the app and connect with one of the “China” servers. You should now be able to access Chinese websites.