The fact, as you might already know, is that WhatsApp has been blocked in China since 2017. However, as a Chinese who’s currently working in Hong Kong, WhatsApp is very important for me to stay connected with friends and colleagues and I certainly need access to my WhatsApp every time I go back to the mainland. So how can I use WhatsApp in China?
From my experience, I can tell you that it’s entirely possible to access WhatsApp in China, and actually, it’s not a quite complicated thing as long as you follow the guides that I’m about to share with you.
- How to use WhatsApp in China with a VPN?
- Best VPN for unblocking WhatsApp in China
- How to use WhatsApp in China without VPN?
- Why is WhatsApp illegal and blocked in China?
- Is WhatsApp allowed in Hong Kong?
- China’s version of WhatsApp: WeChat
- The Reddit discussions center around the topic of how to use WhatsApp in China
- FAQ: About WhatsApp in China
How to use WhatsApp in China with a VPN?
VPN is a tool for protecting people’s internet traffic and keeping their identities private online. Your internet traffic will go through an encrypted tunnel that nobody can see when you connect to a secure VPN server. This is my way to access WhatsApp and I guess it’s probably the easiest way. Here are 3 steps to help you unblock WhatsApp with a VPN in China.
Step 1: Choose the right VPN
The very first step for you is to find a VPN that can work in China. For this first step, a few things you need to be careful,
- Even though there are so many awesome VPN providers in the market, not all of them are working in China. Since the Great Firewall in China nowadays is getting stronger and stronger, it becomes increasingly hard for VPN providers to bypass the Great Firewall, which is why you need to do some research first to figure out the right one.
- You need to make sure that the VPN apps and account have been ready before you visit China because once you’re in China, you won’t be able to download any VPN apps. If you’re thinking to download the file directly from the provider’s website, I can tell you now that’s also impossible since you won’t be able to access the website as well.
- It’s also important to purchase the most suitable plan for the VPN before going. I suggest you choose the yearly plan or even a year’s plan if it’s possible since you don’t want to get stuck just because you forget to renew your plan, right? Still, it really depends on how long you’re going to stay in China.
Step 2: Turn on your VPN
After you’ve signed up for a VPN account and purchased a plan, you’re free to use your VPN! There are 2 crucial settings you need to know.
- Choose the right server: Normally, a VPN will provide users with 100+ servers from different countries. Because the network speed could be different by region, you need to test a bit to see which countries’ servers could give you the best network speed.
- Choose the right protocol: VPN protocols are sets of programs and processes that determine how that tunnel is actually formed. There will be a few protocol options for you to choose from in a VPN app.
Step 3: Download WhatsApp and enjoy it
Once you have access to the internet on your phone or PC, you’re connected to a VPN, which should enable you to log onto WhatsApp without any problems. Well, It’s surely common to experience some interruptions with your connection, so I suggest you test out the best VPN servers for yourself.
If you’re still having trouble accessing WhatsApp or other blocked websites, you should contact your VPN’s customer support team for further assistance.
WhatsApp for Android – APK Download
WhatsApp for iOS – APK Download
Best VPN for unblocking WhatsApp in China
I’m recommending NordVPN for anyone in China looking for a fast, secure, and reliable VPN. With a solid overall score of 8.8/10, NordVPN makes sure your internet experience is smooth even with online restrictions.
NordVPN’s performance is impressive, you can stream, work, and browse with little to no slowdowns. Using advanced protocols like NordLynx (based on WireGuard), NordVPN keeps your connection fast and secure.
What sets NordVPN apart is its huge network of over 7,200 servers in 118 countries. This makes it easy to unblock websites and streaming services, which is especially important for users in China who need to bypass restrictions.
The best part? NordVPN offers affordable pricing, starting at just $4 per month (or $60 for the first year). Plus, with a 30-day money-back guarantee, you can try it risk-free.
(NordVPN 1 year deal with 58% off for $5.00/mo)
Here’s a quick look at why NordVPN is a great choice:
| Key Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 8.8/10 |
| Introductory Pricing | $4 per month / $60 for the first year |
| Average Speed Loss | Only 3% drop in download speeds (2025 tests) |
| Global Servers | 7,200+ servers |
| Countries Covered | 118 countries |
| Jurisdiction | Panama |
| Advanced Protocols | NordLynx (WireGuard), OpenVPN, NordWhisper |
| Money-Back Guarantee | 30 days |
If you want a fast and private VPN with easy access to global content, NordVPN is a great choice. Start using it today for a better, safer online experience and don’t miss NordVPN 1 year deal with 58% off for $5.00/mo!
How to use WhatsApp in China without VPN?
Assuming you don’t like the VPN method, is there any way to use WhatsApp in China without VPN? Yes, you can use Open proxies and Tor to do that but I won’t recommend it since they’re not really convenient.
The basic logic is that you need to make sure your Internet connection appears to originate from outside of the mainland, so there are a few other ways to achieve that.
- Open proxies: Open proxies simply relay all traffic passing through. This simple circumvention method was quite effective for many years until the GFW’s advanced deep packet filtering quickly rendered it ineffective.
Why is WhatsApp illegal and blocked in China?
Because Facebook is unwilling to give the Chinese government permission to moderate and censor messages on WhatsApp, All of Facebook’s products are still being blocked in China nowadays. As you might know that WhatsApp is owned by Facebook.
Also, it’s because the government’s power to control the content was minimized due to WhatsApp’s strong encryption code at the time, which will be considered a potential risk to the government.
Since 2017 China has been blocking messages, videos, files, and everything now from WhatsApp. Well, some people might notice that some messages sometimes still go through, but I don’t think that’s counted.
Is WhatsApp allowed in Hong Kong?
Because of the one country two systems policy, the internet is not censored in Hong Kong for now and residents are able to access WhatsApp which is banned on the mainland. In fact, more Hong Kong people use WhatsApp than WeChat or Line, or other instant message apps.
Being in Hong Kong could be considered another way to access WhatsApp in China. Of course, if you forgot to set up your VPN before landing in China, you could go to Hong Kong for downloading the VPN.
China’s version of WhatsApp: WeChat
| Type: | For chatting |
| Supported devices: | iOS, Android, Windows |
| App store: | Apple App Store, Google Play Store |
| APK: | https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.tencent.mm |
| Website: | https://www.wechat.com/ |
| If it’s baned in India: | Banned |
WeChat (also known as Chinese WhatsApp), in China, is not just changing people texting behavior, but also the way they access the internet. WeChat is often called “The Chinese Internet”, as almost anything you do on the web you can also do on WeChat.
The Mini-Programs help WeChat accomplish these, apps that live within the WeChat ecosystem. Besides chatting with your friends, you can use WeChat to call taxis, book hotels, do online shopping, play games, do money transactions, buy tickets, and even loan money, which is so crazy!
I would say you definitely need to know what are the most useful Chinese apps when you’re traveling in China.
The Reddit discussions center around the topic of how to use WhatsApp in China
The Reddit discussions revolve around the accessibility of WhatsApp in mainland China. Users share their experiences, mentioning that while WhatsApp texts might work without a VPN, sending/receiving images or making voice calls is restricted. Some users inquire about the possibility of using WhatsApp in China without a VPN, and the responses suggest that, in general, using a VPN is necessary, but the effectiveness can vary due to government actions against VPNs.
There’s a consensus that WhatsApp is blocked in China, and occasional messages may slip through, particularly text messages. Users advise that a VPN is often required for consistent access. The discussions also touch on the safety of using WhatsApp in China, with mentions of potential risks, such as the government cracking down on VPN usage.
FAQ: About WhatsApp in China
There are only five countries in the world that are not allowed to use WhatsApp in some capacity: China, North Korea, Syria, Qatar, and the UAE.
Facebook is not available in China, it virtually has no footprint in China because the service, the parent company of which is now known as Meta (FB), is banned in that country, along with many other global social media providers, such as Telegram, Instagram, etc.
