The Internet is available all over China, but not all of the Internet is available. Sites like Google's and social media like Facebook are censored and blocked, needing technology like VPNs for access. Wi-Fi connections are quite common, and you can connect to them often in the same way as in the West.
- Is the Internet available in China?
- Can foreigners use Internet in China?
- Why is Google blocked in China?
- Why is Internet in China so slow?
Is the Internet available in China?
China has been on the internet intermittently since May 1989 and on a permanent basis since 20 April 1994, although with limited access. In 2008, China became the country with the largest population on the Internet and, as of 2022, has remained so.
Can foreigners use Internet in China?
Even though the internet is available throughout China, not all internet is available for tourists. In fact, many internet cafes only accept customers with Chinese ID, preventing foreign travelers from accessing what they'd take for granted normally.
Why is Google blocked in China?
Google pulled its search engine from China in 2010 because of heavy government internet censorship. Since then, Google has had a difficult relationship with the Chinese market. The end of Google Translate in China marks a further retreat by the U.S. technology giant from the world's second-largest economy.
Why is Internet in China so slow?
The Great Firewall of China -or GFW is a combination of legislative actions and technologies to regulate the internet within China's borders. What it mainly boils down to is blocked access to selected foreign websites and applications, and slowed-down cross-border internet traffic.