Does IPVanish Work in China? [Tested, 2026]

IPVanish doesn’t work in China. I tried the VPN several times, using all three protocols without success.

Fortunately, you can find alternative VPNs that work flawlessly in China, allowing you to access Google, Facebook, and Netflix in Beijing or anywhere else.

I tested over 30 top VPN providers over several days, and my top choice is Surfshark. It delivered the most stable VPN connection and unblocked every restricted site I tried.

Keep reading to learn about my IPVanish alternatives for China and how to unblock your favorite sites and apps within the country!

Try Surfshark for China Instead

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IPVanish Alternatives That Work in China

After hitting a wall with IPVanish, I tested several other VPN services, and the following came out on top regarding reliability and speed.

Surfshark

Surshark works well in China, enabling you to bypass the Great Firewall and access censored sites.

While the VPN doesn’t have servers in mainland China, you can find servers in Hong Kong and Macau SAR. I particularly like that Surfshark offers MultiHop VPN servers in Hong Kong via Singapore for added privacy.

Plus, its server infrastructure is 100% diskless, which ensures all data is automatically wiped clean in the event of a server seizure by the authorities.

You also get access to 4,500+ servers in 100 countries – one of the most extensive VPN server networks. This makes it easier to unblock restricted foreign sites.

The VPN accessed Netflix, Hulu, YouTube, Twitter, and Facebook in my tests.

You can test Surfshark premium service risk-free for 30 days courtesy of their money-back guarantee.

Ready to try it out? Get our limited-time offer and save big on your first subscription.

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ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN is another solid virtual private network for China.

It worked about 80 percent of the time during my tests, which is no mean feat.

Although it’s less reliable than Surfshark, the provider quickly updates its servers whenever there are issues.

As you can see in the image above, the VPN enabled me to access YouTube in China via the Hong Kong server.

It also unblocked all top streaming services, including Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and Hulu.

On top of that, Expressed delivered the fastest speeds of all the VPN services I tested in Shanghai, allowing me to stream HD videos without interruptions.

Like Surfshark, the provider doesn’t have servers in mainland China, but you can get Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan IP addresses.

Finally, ExpressVPN offers obfuscation, ensuring you don’t get in trouble with the authorities for using a VPN. Its obfuscation is better than most VPNs’ in that you don’t lose significant speeds once it’s automatically enabled on connection to any server.

Overall, ExpressVPN is a top option for China but is costly. Still, with our sign-up discount, you can lower the cost significantly and enjoy a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Try ExpressVPN in China!

NordVPN

NordVPN is the third alternative I’d keep in mind for China.

It wasn’t part of my Shanghai test round, so I can’t share my own China results for it. What it does have is the tool this job calls for: obfuscated servers, which NordVPN says “prevent your VPN traffic from being blocked in countries with high restrictions.”

Like Surfshark and ExpressVPN, it has no servers in mainland China. Instead, you get physical servers in Hong Kong and Taiwan, plus Japan, South Korea, and Singapore a little further out.

One subscription covers 10 devices at once, so your phone, laptop, and tablet can all stay protected during your trip.

My NordVPN China guide walks you through the setup step by step.

And like the other two, the provider offers a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can test it on your own connection first.

Try NordVPN for China

How to Set Up and Use a VPN in China?

Setting up a VPN in China isn’t complicated and can be done in minutes.

Here are the steps to follow:

Subscribe to your preferred IPVanish alternative for China – I recommend Surfshark.

Download and install the VPN app on your device.

Launch the application and log in.

Connect to a VPN server. If you’re trying to use Surfshark in China, the app immediately detects this and automatically switches to NoBorders mode.

Open the foreign site you want to access and enjoy!

That’s just about it. You can check out our guide on using Surfshark in China for a more detailed walkthrough.

Bypass the Great Firewall With Ease

China’s Great Firewall is as tough as they come, and it’s little surprise that most VPNs – including IPvanish – can’t get around it.

Thankfully, some alternatives allow you to browse safely and unblock restricted sites in China. Of these, Surfshark is my top pick for China thanks to its reliable performance and ultra-fast speeds.

So, what are you waiting for? Get Surfshark’s current sign-up deal to unblock your favorite sites in China at a discount!

Does IPVanish Work in China? + Alternatives (2026)