Why China Is Different
China's Great Firewall uses deep packet inspection (DPI) to detect and block standard VPN protocols (OpenVPN, WireGuard, IKEv2). A VPN that works in Germany or the US may be completely blocked in China. The only VPNs that work reliably use obfuscation technology that disguises VPN traffic as regular HTTPS web traffic.
Obfuscation Protocols That Work
The protocols that currently pass the Great Firewall: Shadowsocks (originally designed specifically for this), V2Ray, Trojan, and proprietary obfuscation layers like NordVPN's Obfuscated Servers, ExpressVPN's Lightway with obfuscation, and Astrill's StealthVPN. Standard OpenVPN and WireGuard without obfuscation are blocked.
Best Options in 2026
Astrill VPN is widely considered the most reliable VPN for China. StealthVPN protocol consistently bypasses the firewall. The app is more complex than consumer VPNs but the reliability justifies it for business travelers. Price: around 30 USD/month (the premium reflects the maintenance required to stay ahead of GFW updates).
ExpressVPN with Lightway protocol and obfuscation enabled. Works for most users most of the time. Occasional connection drops during sensitive political periods (national holidays, major events). 13 USD/month. The consumer-friendliest option that still works.
NordVPN with Obfuscated Servers enabled. More reliable than it was in 2023-2024. Enable obfuscated servers specifically (not all servers support it). 6-13 USD/month depending on plan length.
What to Do Before You Arrive
Download and configure your VPN before entering China. Once inside, downloading VPN apps from app stores is blocked. Set up at least two VPN options (primary and backup) before you go. Download server configurations manually if your VPN supports it.
What Does Not Work
Free VPNs: essentially all blocked. OpenVPN without obfuscation: blocked. WireGuard without obfuscation: blocked. Most browser-based VPN extensions: blocked.