Many countries censor the internet. But, China has a notoriously impressive censorship program in place. If you are in Mainland China, you can’t access Google’s popular email service Gmail. In 2014, the Chinese Government banned Gmail, Google Chrome, and all Google-based search inquires. Remember, if you are ever planning to visit China for your next vacation trip, you will experience a lack of access to the websites and applications you use around the rest of the world.
According to anti-censorship advocates, the Great Firewall of China is blocking big services like Gmail in an attempt to regulate the internet and protect users from malicious content. However, the citizens and tourists are not happy about it. That’s why China remains in the top position in terms of the worst online freedom.
The Great Firewall of China is not just about Gmail inaccessibility. There is a sheer lack of freedom when it comes to using the internet in China. Here is the list of popular web applications and sites blocked inside the Mainland of China other than Gmail.
- YouTube
- Netflix
- Telegram
- Flickr
- WordPress
- Yahoo
- DuckDuckGo
- BBC
- Wikipedia
- Quora
- Dropbox
The list keeps expanding every year. As you could see, the Chinese Government didn’t spare even sites like LinkedIn and Quora.
How to Overcome Internet Censorship and Access Gmail From Within China?
The Great Firewall of China restricts your device from accessing the Gmail servers by using a process called geoblocking. When you are geoblocked, it means the Chinese Government has detected your China-based location and IP address. As a result, your Gmail access request gets blocked.
Now that you understood how the Great Firewall keeps stopping you from using Gmail, we need to look for an option to change your device’s IP address and location. Though there are several methods to bypass the Great Firewall of China, using a VPN is one of the easiest and most effective ways to do it. A VPN gives you the benefit of accessing Gmail within China and saves your connection from online snooping and privacy breaches.
A VPN or Virtual Private Network is a technique that helps you change your location virtually by replacing your real IP address. There are a lot of reasons to subscribe to a VPN service. A VPN connection helps you hide your real IP and location. It offers tight encryption that protects all your online activities. Most of all, it gives absolute online freedom that allows you to access the internet uncensored.
A VPN’s encryption makes your internet connection private such that it’s away from the prying data surveillance programs of the China Government.
Choosing a VPN can be exceedingly tricky. When talking about the Great Firewall of China, it includes VPN blocks as well. Since China is not a friendly country for VPN users, using a mediocre VPN can land you in trouble. While some free VPNs are known to track your browsing history, many paid VPNs come with average connection speeds and lacking security features. Hence, it is essential to take certain factors into account before subscribing to a VPN service.
If you are looking for a top-notch VPN provider with distinguishing features, we can help you. Take a look at these best performing VPNs that will help you unblock Gmail in China.
Top VPN Providers That Help You Access Gmail in China
- NordVPN
- ExpressVPN
- Surfshark VPN
NordVPN – The Best VPN to Bypass the Great Firewall of China
NordVPN is a feature-packed service provider to come at an affordable subscription price. It has more than 600 VPN servers in the Asia Pacific region, which means you can easily choose a fast-connecting server available near China.
The best Asia Pacific servers are available in Taiwan, Singapore, Japan, Hong Kong, Malaysia, South Korea, Vietnam, Indonesia, and Thailand. Additionally, you can also connect to the Australia and New Zealand servers to get unrestricted access to Gmail.
More than helping you bypass the Great Firewall of China, NordVPN can unblock a range of streaming media and websites all over the globe. It works perfectly with Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, Hotstar, BBC iPlayer, ESPN, ABC, and more such geo-restricted channels.
- 5200+ servers in 62 countries
- Use up to 6 devices
- Next-generation Encryption
- Double VPN Feature
- Strict no-logs policy
You can use NordVPN’s obfuscated servers in regions with restrictive internet and heavy censorship. If you are in countries like China, Russia, and Saudi Arabia, you can enjoy complete internet freedom with NordVPN anonymously.
NordVPN protects your privacy from the prying eyes of the Chinese Government. With the zero no-logging policy, NordVPN ensures all your online activities remain private. In this way, you do not have to worry about being monitored online.
NordVPN helps you unblock Gmail in China using different platforms, including Linux, Windows, iOS, macOS, Android, Amazon Fire TV, and Apple TV. You can try NordVPN features with the 30-day moneyback policy it offers.
ExpressVPN – Get Access to Your Gmail Account From Anywhere Using Lightning-Fast VPN Servers
ExpressVPN easily clean sweeps as one of the best VPN providers for its features, speed, and user-friendliness. It has over 3000 servers worldwide and more than 100 servers located in 27 Asia Pacific countries.
In general, it is recommended to pick a VPN server located close to China, as you can unblock Gmail and other restricted sites without any lag in your connection.
ExpressVPN is probably one of the few VPNs in the industry to give a tough fight to the Great Firewall, which is why it’s the most trusted VPN provider in China.
The TrustedServer Technology of ExpressVPN utilizes RAM instead of a hard drive. By doing this, all your sensitive information is wiped off when you complete your VPN session. This technology plays a significant role in keeping your online privacy intact, especially in countries like China that constantly monitor your online presence.
- 160 server locations
- Network Lock kill switch
- Zero-knowledge DNS
- VPN split tunneling
- Stream Sports online
ExpressVPN has robust security features. The AES-256-bit encryption provides the top-most security level that keeps your data protected against hackers and other unwanted external parties. Similarly, the automatic kill switch keeps you secured when your VPN crashes suddenly.
ExpressVPN is suitable for Windows, iOS, macOS, Android, Chrome, and Firefox users. You can use a single ExpressVPN account to protect up to 5 devices simultaneously.
Surfshark VPN – Enable the NoBorders Mode to Access Applications and Websites Beyond Borders
Surfshark is a rapidly developing VPN provider that has all the advanced features required for a perfect VPN. Overall, it has more than 1700 global VPN servers. If you are looking to choose a server in the Asia Pacific regions, Surfshark has more than 100 server points in 15 countries. You can easily pick the best server for you to access Gmail within China.
Surfshark’s NoBorders Mode can easily knock down all internet censorship programs, including the Great Firewall of China. Additionally, Surfshark has the Camouflage Mode that completely disguises your VPN connection. For countries like China, this feature is beneficial as your ISP can’t identify your VPN connection.
When it comes to security, Surfshark fares well. Top-grade encryption protocol and an automatic kill switch secure your internet traffic from online vulnerabilities. Likewise, Surfshark also features CyberWeb that protects you from malware attacks and advertisements.
- Connect unlimited Devices
- AES-256-GCM encryption
- IP & DNS leak protection
- Unlimited bandwidth
- Free Browser Extensions
- Strict no-logs policy
Surfshark also supports MultiHop technology, which offers you double-fold protection by connecting you to two different VPN servers at once.
Surfshark could be your best bet if privacy is your priority. It doesn’t retain any user information, thus allowing you to enjoy absolute digital freedom. It works on all major platforms like Windows, Linux, Android, iOS, macOS, Smart TVs, and all popular browser extensions. You can opt-in for Surfshark’s 30-day moneyback guarantee to try out the VPN provider without any risk.
Ways to Access Gmail in China Using a VPN
You can follow these step-by-step instructions to configure a VPN on your device and access Gmail in China.
- Choose a premium VPN provider from the above list. We recommend NordVPN, as it comes with an extensive server network.
- Choose a subscription plan and proceed with the payment to sign up for the service.
- Download and install the client on your device and turn on the VPN connection.
- Choose a random VPN server of your choice and check if your real IP and location have been changed.
- Open the Gmail app. You will see that you have unrestricted access to the email service.
Summary
If you are in China, accessing Gmail and other Google applications can be a great deal. Moreover, the Chinese Government keeping track of your online activities can be intimidating. A premium VPN can be an end-to-end solution for all your internet needs in China. Choose the right one today to access Gmail safely and anonymously.
