ProtonVPN in China

VPN
1

TLDR : I’m using ProtonVPN in China without much issues, though this isn’t an endorsement if you need critical access to a VPN in China. If you plan on using ProtonVPN, then make sure to get the app and login BEFORE being in China, also, avoid Chinese brand phones even if it’s the global market ones as ProtonVPN doesn’t work on my Xiaomi phone.

Having family in China, I go back from time to time. Since China is blocking a lot of stuff, I always used VPNs.

Just before the pandemic, I had setup a Softether VPN that works perfectly for 2 visits. I only had issues with one cellphone provider that seem to be blocking any and all VPN on their network.

I know China cracked down more since then, and so I had setup 3 VPS with VPNs 1 Softether (same as previously), 1 OpenVPN, and 1 Wireguard.

Even though all “VPN in China” articles out there were saying ProtonVPN doesn’t work in China, I had made free accounts and installed it on my devices, just in case.

I didn’t expect all 3 of my VPNs to be blocked almost instantly. I lost VPN connection to all 3 within minutes, I can still SSH into my VPS, but the VPN connection doesn’t work anymore.

Only thing that works at the moment is Proton, I’m actually surprised!

I’m only using it when I need to use Facebook of Messenger to talk to my Canadian family and post pictures.

Also, funny anecdote, the only device where ProtonVPN won’t work is a Xiaomi phone (global market version) that I got years ago as my “China phone” and that I’ve since given to my teen daughter. The app opens, but refuses to even login.

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Time to use SSH as VPN tunnel then. Until they start blocking it, obviously.

3

Could you tell what protocol do you use with proton?
Also, apps like nekobox (from guthub) allow you to use ssh as proxy protocol.

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Last time I spent in China (6 weeks) late last year, I never had any issues with ProtonVPN on my 2 phones (IPhones with French sims) but I never managed to make proton work on my Laptop even using the same server I was connected to on my phones. My guess is they are letting foreigners do their thing. WhatsApp and Signal no issues either even without VPN.

5

currently in china and proton working flawlessly :slight_smile:

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The “VPN in China” articles that I have read tend to look suspiciously like paid advertorials by Express, or are pitching dubious Chinese VPNs - so claims that rivals don’t work in China wouldn’t surprise me.

I don’t know why Proton hasn’t refuted these claims. Maybe they don’t want to draw extra attention to themselves from the Chinese government.

Out of curiosity OP, were you on a free or paid Proton plan, and which telco were you using when you were there?

7

Thank you for sharing. Going to china soon for tradeshow soon and i need my youtube fix

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I am using Google Fi in China without any issue and either Google’s VPN or Protonvpn on WiFi, no problem

9

just reminder they can’t connect in China

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Using the “stealth” option for the protocol.

As for VPN through SSH, I think I’ll keep using ProtonVPN as it’s working fine for now. If I ever need to fall back on my own VPN, I’ll look into it. But seeing as my self-hosted services are still working and available, I doubt I’ll need to.

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There has never been a problem using foreign SIM cards, that is why many Chinese people evade the firewall by using them.

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Still in China until end of August, I’m on a free account since I only need to have access to Facebook.

The phone is with China Unicom, not sure about the ISP.

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I’m still in China and it’s still working fine.

Like I said in my post, if you absolutely need a VPN in China, there are other solutions that guarantee it works, but if you need a “just in case” solution, it works perfectly fine.

https://imgur.com/a/BoxhB2s

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what is this Nord100force stuff? bot accounts spamming this everywhere? virus?
edit: nvm, just some stupid fake site with affiliate link to nordvpn. still bunch of bots tho

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yes. replying you through Proton :slight_smile:

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what protocol? I’ve only gotten it to work for like 2 minutes after trying like 100 times in the past week or two

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smart (auto). Been working well with my phone (S22 Samsung ).