Does Surfshark Work in China in 2023? 

The Great Firewall of China not only blocks websites, but also blocks VPN services, and the Chinese government is constantly updating its geo-blocking technology, making it particularly difficult to access blocked websites.

Does Surfshark VPN work in China? When this VPN had the Shadowsocks protocol, it was an easy and reliable option for China VPN users, and while it will still work in China, it’s a bit less reliable, so you may need to do a bit of manual setup to get it working reliably.

Surfshark is a high-performance, low-cost VPN for China that will get the job done, which a free VPN won’t be able to do for you, so keep reading to get the scoop!

How Does Surfshark Bypass The Great Firewall of China?

China has strong censorship of Internet traffic that is protected and maintained by a strong firewall. It uses a variety of tools to limit access to content, including DNS tampering, IP blocking, keyword filtering, URL filtering, manual enforcement, and deep packet inspection.

Despite all these restrictions, does Surfshark VPN work in China? It sure does! When you use Surfshark VPN in China, all of your data travels through an encrypted tunnel so your data is completely secure, and it can effectively hide your IP address, plus the camouflage mode hides any VPN traces, so when you are online it looks like normal traffic on the Internet.

How to Set Up and Use Surfshark in China 

It’s not easy to get past the ultra-strong geo-blocking technology imposed by The Great Firewall of China, but with a bit of extra configuration, Surshark can get the job done. Here’s what you need to do.

1. Go to the Surfshark website and get your OpenVPN credentials.You can find this by logging into your account, and going to VPN setting > manual setup > manual > credentials. Copy and save your username and password.
2. List the server hostnames to which you want to connect.Do this by going to manual > credentials > location. Do not select “fastest server” or “nearest country” from China. Copy by pressing Control + C while the text is highlighted, before you release the left mouse button. If that doesn’t work, download the UDP or TCP .ovpn file, open the file in a text editor, and copy the name found after the word “remote.” Not all locations will work, so make a list with lots of options.
3. Download a UDP and TCP file.
4. Select one of the locations by clicking Download TCP and Download UDP, and saving the 2 .ovpn files on your computer.
5.  Find an IP address that isn’t blocked in China.Choose one of the server hostnames from your list, and check it at https://cachecheck.opendns.com/.Check if the IP address is blocked in China by sending a ping command. Alternatively, you can check the IP address at https://ping.pe/.If you don’t see a 100% packet loss, then the IP address is not blocked in China. Keep a list of all the working addresses.
6. Create OpenVPN config files.Open one of the .ovpn files that you downloaded, UDP will generally be faster, and TCP may be more reliable.On Windows 10, add a line with the text “block-outside-DNS.”
7. Replace the hostname with one of the IP addresses from your list.
8. Save and name the file, making sure the file extension ends in .ovpn. If the letters txt are added to the end, delete them.
9. Change the IP address on file one from your list and save it with a new name.
10. Make 1 UDP file and 1 TCP file for each of the IP addresses.
11. Install OpenVPN and import files.On Windows apps, use https://openvpn.net/community-downloads/ or https://github.com/tfc-assets/downloads/raw/main/OpenVPN-2.5.0-I601-amd64.msi.On MacOS use https://tunnelblick.net/downloads.html or https://github.com/tfc-assets/downloads/raw/main/Tunnelblick_3.8.4_build_5600.dmg.
12. On Android phone use https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=net.openvpn.openvpn or https://github.com/tfc-assets/downloads/raw/main/de.blinkt.openvpn_175.apk.
13. For an IOS device use https://apps.apple.com/us/app/openvpn-connect/id590379981.

Websites You Can Unblock in China with Surfshark VPN Servers

Surfshark China will give you access to a host of sites without the Great Firewall holding you back, including:

 Facebook
 Twitter
 YouTube
 Instagram
 The New York Times
 Pinterest
 GitHub
 Reddit
 Time
 Flickr
 Vimeo
 BBC
 Soundcloud
 Bloomberg
 Tumblr
 Discord

How Much Does Surfshark Cost?

Surfshark VPN is a reliable VPN offering secure Internet access in China at a low cost. It offers a variety of subscription plans.

The best deal is the 24-month plan for only $2.49 per month.

If you are looking for a shorter contract, you can sign up for 12 months at $3.99 per month, or try it out for just one month for $12.95.

Keep in mind when signing up for the less-expensive longer plans and get a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can essentially get one month for free.

Look out for VPN deals that can make Surfshark VPN even more affordable.

Why Is Surfshark A Great VPN for China?

Surfshark VPN is a highly reliable, secure VPN for China that you can get for a low cost. Not only is it priced well, but it offers unlimited device connections so you can share your subscription with as many family and friends as you would like, which can save you some cash while getting the job done, which a free VPN can’t do for you.

When it comes to unblocking geo-restricted content, even when it’s protected by China’s Great Firewall, Surfshark has a great track record.

When in China, take advantage of the Surfshark VPN camouflage mode, which makes it impossible to distinguish VPN traffic from regular online traffic, even under deep packet inspection (DPI).

When you use Surfshark VPN in China, you can access all the popular streaming services, including Netflix and BBC iPlayer; news sites like The New York Times and Time Magazine; and social media platforms, including Facebook and Instagram.

There are over 3,200 servers in 100 countries in the Surfshark VPN network, so it’s easy to find a VPN server in the county of your choice so you can access foreign websites, plus lots of servers means your VPN connection will stay fast even when there’s a high volume of online traffic.

While the process of encryption can slow don your connection speeds, the Internet speed with Surfshark VPN is good enough for streaming and gaming without any lags, not only due to its large number of servers but also its fast protocols, unlimited server switches, unlimited speed, and unlimited bandwidth.

All of your VPN connections get the best in online security when you use Surfshark VPN. Security features include military-grade 256-AES Bit Encryption, an automatic Kill Switch that will protect you if your VPN connection drops, as well as IP & DNS leak protection.

Additional security features include the MutiHop mode, or double VPN (MultiHop) where your VPN traffic is routed through two VPN servers for a more secure connection. The CleanWeb feature will protect you from ads, malware, and phishing attempts, and Surfshark Alert will notify you if there are any signs that you’ve been hacked.

Your private data is well protected when you use the Surfshark VPN provider, as it has a strict, and verified no-log policy meaning it won’t store IP addresses, browsing history, or DNS queries. The Surfshark VPN service is located in the British Virgin Islands, a privacy-friendly location with no data retention laws.

Surfshark VPN is compatible with all of the common devices and operating systems, with intuitive apps for Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Chrome, Linux, and Firefox, as well as apps for routers, smart TVs, and gaming consoles; since it offers unlimited device connections you can cover your whole household with just one of the Surfshark VPN apps.

It can be tricky using Surfshark VPN in China, so if you run into any glitches or stumbling blocks along the way, just reach out to Surfcshark’s knowledgeable team of customer service representatives, who are available 24/7 via live chat to help you.

You can give Surshark VPN in China a try for 30 days, and if you find it’s not the best VPN for your needs, just cancel and get a full refund.

Other VPNs That Work in China

Here are some of the other reliable VPNs for China:

1. ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN is considered the best VPN for China, especially if you sign up before you get to China.
Its more user-friendly than Surfshark VPN in China, and is less likely to require manual configuration to get the VPN apps to work in China

ExpressVPN offers a large network of servers around the world and reliably unblocks geo-restricted websites, plus it’s fast so you can enjoy streaming movies and playing games online without buffering or lags.

When you use ExpressVPN, you get top-of-the-line security features, including military-grade encryption, an automatic Kill Switch, and IP & DNS leak protection. All of your online data will stay completely private with ExpressVPN because it has a strict, verified no-logs policy and is based in the privacy-friendly British Virgin Islands.

ExpressVPN is compatible with all major platforms and devices and allows up to 5 simultaneous connections.

The main downside to ExpressVPN in China, since China will restrict access to the ExpressVPN website, you need to use a VPN to sign up if you are already in China.

Every ExpressVPN subscription comes with 24/7 live-chat support and a 30-day trial period, so you can give it a go risk-free.

2. NordVPN

NordVPN is a great all-around VPN that is consistently found on the list of best VPNs in just about any category. It has the VPN software needed to unblock all of the popular streaming services. They offer obfuscated servers that are particularly useful for unblocking content in China.

The speed on NordVPN is excellent, and it has a large network of server addresses worldwide, so you can easily access the content you want without any lags or delays.

The VPN software for security on NordVPN is first-rate and includes a Kill Switch, DNS & IP leak protection, military-grade encryption, double VPN, and malware protection. It also has a strict, verified no-logs policy ensuring your privacy is protected. You can also purchase a dedicated IP address so you’ll be connected to the same server every time you use your VPN.

You can use up to 6 devices simultaneously with NordVPN and it is compatible with all major devices and platforms.

NordVPN comes with 24/7 live-chat support and a 30-day money-back guarantee.

FAQs

Surfshark Virtual Private Network for China: Conclusion

Does Surshark VPN work in China? Absolutely. Surfshark VPN software can get past China’s firewall.

If you want the very best VPN for China, though, a better option would be ExpressVPN, which can reliably get past China’s Great Firewall with top speeds.