Is Twitch blocked in China? Yes, Twitch is currently blocked in China. The Chinese government has implemented internet censorship measures that restrict access to various foreign websites and online platforms, and Twitch is just one of the websites that are blocked from within China.
Want to watch your favorite Twitch streams, videos, and chats even while in China? We’ve got the perfect trick – use a VPN! If you’re not sure what a VPN is, and you’re planning a trip to China, you’ve got to know about it.
How to unblock Twitch in China?
You can use a VPN to bypass the restriction in China and access Twitch. 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 Twitch and I guess it’s probably the easiest way. Here are 3 steps.
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 of.
- If you’re planning a trip to China and want to use a VPN to bypass the Great Firewall, not all VPNs are created equal. The Chinese government has gotten pretty good at blocking VPNs, so it’s important to do your research and find one that will actually work.
- Make sure to download and set up your VPN app and account before you go to China, because you won’t be able to download it once you’re there. And forget about downloading it directly from the provider’s website, because that’s blocked too.
- Before you head off on your trip, take some time to figure out what kind of VPN plan you need. I suggest going for a yearly or multi-year plan so you don’t get caught without access due to a forgotten renewal. But of course, it all depends on how long you’ll be staying 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 in a VPN app. For example, in ExpressVPN, there are 7 protocols.
- Lightway: It’s a next-generation VPN protocol that provides the best in speed, security, and reliability.
- OpenVPN: It is a very popular and highly secure protocol used by many VPN providers.
- IPSec/IKEv2: It sets the foundation for a secure VPN connection by establishing an authenticated and encrypted connection.
- Wireguard: It is the newest and fastest tunneling protocol the entire VPN industry is talking about.
- SSTP: Secure Socket Tunneling Protocol (SSTP) is a fairly secure and capable VPN protocol created by Microsoft.
- L2TP/IPSec: It’s simply a VPN tunneling protocol that creates a connection between you and a VPN server.
- PPTP: Point-to-Point Tunneling Protocol (PPTP) was created in 1999 and was the first widely available VPN protocol. It was first designed to tunnel dialup traffic!
I remember once I was suffering a terrible, terrible network environment in China and only this Lightway protocol of ExpressVPN was able to help me access the internet, so I was really impressed!
Step 3: Enjoy Twitch
Once you have access to the internet on your phone or PC, you’re connected to a VPN, which should enable you to access the website twitch.com or download the Twitch apps 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 Twitch or other blocked websites, you should contact your VPN’s customer support team for further assistance.
What is the best VPN for Twitch?
| Number of US server cities | 16 |
| Number of servers | 3,000+ |
| Server locations | 160 |
| Maximum devices supported | 5 |
Here’s why I reckon ExpressVPN is the ultimate go-to for busting through Twitch blocks in China – it’s like a superstar combo of everything you need, from speed and safety to user-friendliness, compatibility, and top-notch customer support.
It’s got this killer feature for China – a whopping 3,000+ servers scattered across 160 spots and 94 countries. So, no matter where you are, they’ve got you covered.
When it comes to speed, ExpressVPN’s got your back, especially if you flick on their fancy Lightway protocol. And get this – they’ve got these cool wizards that help you pick smart options, plus a 24/7 live chat that’s your buddy whenever you need help, even if you’re not in China.
But here’s the deal – with ExpressVPN, you can totally download the app and snag a Twitch account while you’re in China (yep, I’ve tried it). And the security game? On point. Think Bitcoin payments, P2P support, super-strong encryption, a kill switch, DNS armor, and a rock-solid no-logs rule.
Now, the only catch? You can only have five gadgets hooked up at the same time, which is a tad fewer compared to some others. But hey, if you’re good with that, ExpressVPN is like your golden ticket to Twitch in China.
What does China use instead of Twitch?
Lots of platforms in China offer a wide array of live-streaming content, catering to the interests of Chinese audiences and providing a vibrant space for gamers, fans, and content creators to engage and share their passions.
- Douyu TV: Formerly a part of the Chinese online video platform AcFun, Douyu TV went solo and rebranded itself in January. Sequoia Capital has backed them with significant funding – an A-series of RMB 20 million and a B-series of USD 20 million. Leading the game streaming scene in China, Douyu racks up a massive 39.69 million daily pageviews. Their focus spans live streaming games, sports, entertainment, and cultural content. Their ambitious expansion tactics have sparked some debate, including a bold move of hiring six top live casters from competitor Huya.com, totaling RMB 60 million.
- Huya.com: Formerly known as YY Livecasting and under the wings of the NASDAQ-listed company YY, Huya took flight independently last November. Once home to renowned live streamers like Xiaozhi, who had a hefty RMB 20 million contract with Douyu, Huya faced a talent drain due to the competitive forces with Douyu. Battling to fill the void, Huya poured resources into hiring other prominent live streamers, leading to a substantial deficit in their recent financial report. Their CFO, He Zhengyu, revealed a planned RMB 700 million investment from YY in 2015.
- Huomao TV: Making its debut in 2014, Huomao TV is under the wing of Mars TV, an online video platform with a focus on sports and gaming. They made headlines with claims of raising RMB 100 million in a B-series funding round in July. Back in the previous year, they boasted securing USD ten million in an A-series funding round. A strategic alliance with Perfect World, a NASDAQ-listed gaming company, granted them exclusive rights to broadcast the Dota 2 Asia Championships in China. This strategic move drew over 20,000 on-site spectators to the Shanghai event.
- Longzhu TV: Initiated in February 2015 by PLU and Tencent’s Gaming Platform TGA, Longzhu TV stems from the live broadcasting facet of TGA. Their affiliation with Tencent grants them exclusive broadcasting rights for TGA-owned games, including the globally popular League of Legends (LOL), which boasts 27 million daily active players. In a show of confidence, PLU has earmarked a potential investment of up to RMB 100 million (USD 15 million) in Longzhu TV for the year 2015.
FAQ: about Twitch in China
Yes, you can use a Virtual Private Network (VPN) to access Twitch from regions where it might be blocked or restricted. A VPN can help you bypass geographical restrictions and access Twitch as if you were in a different location.
If you’re looking to stream Twitch content from another country, you can use a VPN to connect to a server in that country. This will make it appear as if you’re browsing from that location, allowing you to access Twitch content as if you were there.
Generally, you don’t need a VPN to stream on Twitch. However, if you’re in a region like China where Twitch is blocked or if you’re facing connectivity issues, a VPN can help you access the platform more smoothly.
Among the most popular streaming apps in China are platforms like Douyu TV and Huya.com, which specialize in game streaming. Additionally, platforms like Bilibili and Kuaishou are also widely used for various types of content.
Yes, video streaming is allowed in China, but it is subject to regulations and censorship imposed by the Chinese government. Platforms must comply with these regulations to operate within the country.
