Key Takeaways:

• You can get a China IP address using a VPN and get access to geoblocked Chinese content.
• The best VPN to get a China IP is CyberGhost. However, if you want something low cost, Private Internet Access is a good alternative.
• Unfortunately, you can’t get a China IP using a safe, reliable free VPN because none of them have free VPN servers in mainland China.

China’s famed Great Firewall blocks many websites and apps, from Google to Facebook. It has its own internet ecosystem, where people use WeChat instead of WhatsApp, Youku instead of YouTube and iQiyi instead of Netflix. These Chinese services have geoblocks that won’t allow access if you’re outside China. If that’s what you want, you need to know how to get a Chinese IP address.

You can get a Chinese IP address using a VPN (virtual private network) that offers virtual servers in China. A virtual server is a server that’s located in one country, but assigns you an IP address that belongs to another country. 

As a user, connecting to a virtual server usually has disadvantages for you. However, it has one big advantage when it comes to China’s case. Since virtual servers aren’t physically located in China, the government can’t legally require the VPN service provider to share any data. 

We tested over 20 VPNs, and we found three that could bypass the Great Firewall and had virtual servers for China — CyberGhost came out on top. Stay with us as we talk about the best VPNs to get a Chinese IP, why it’s so hard to find VPNs with servers in China, plus how to set up a VPN to get Chinese IP addresses.

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Quick Guide: How to Get a Chinese IP Address With a VPN

If you’re trying to watch Chinese TV abroad, access a Chinese online service or play Chinese games, you’ll need a VPN with a Chinese server that can bypass geoblocks. If you’ve never used a VPN, just follow the three simple steps illustrated below.

1. Download and Install a VPN

   Start by signing up with a VPN service provider that has a Chinese VPN server — we recommend CyberGhost. Next, download and install the VPN’s app for your device.

   

2. Connect to a Server Located in China

   Your VPN must have at least one server location in China. Once you’ve installed the VPN app, launch it and search for servers in China. Connect to one of the Chinese servers to get a Chinese IP address.

   

3. Access Chinese Content

   Once you’re connected to a server in China, try to access any geoblocked website — for example, Youku.

   

What Are the Best VPNs With Chinese Servers?

Not many of our best VPNs have China servers, virtual or physical, because China is committed to punishing VPN providers and would seize servers that are physically located in its jurisdiction. Even NordVPN, which has one of the largest server networks, doesn’t have a server in China (read our NordVPN review).

For this reason, some VPNs use virtual servers for China. Virtual servers aren’t physically located in China, but are hosted on a virtual machine located outside the country. The virtual servers host software that render tunneling services, just like a physical server would. Except for the piece of hardware, there’s no difference between virtual and physical servers.

Virtual Chinese servers accomplish both goals of keeping your data protected from the Chinese government as well as bypassing the Great Firewall. However, finding a good VPN that has virtual Chinese servers can be a little tricky. Lucky for you, we’ve done all the legwork and found three of the best VPNs to get a Chinese IP address.

1. CyberGhost — Several virtual servers in China for accessing Chinese services
2. Private Internet Access — “Geo-located” virtual China server in Singapore 
3. HideMyAss — Affordable VPN with virtual Chinese servers

Ideally, you should select a VPN that bypasses the Great Firewall and offers a good combination of speed and security. The services we’ve mentioned come out on top based on factors like speed, security, feature portfolio and overall performance. Here’s a little bit you should know about the features to look for in a reliable VPN provider.

Security & Privacy

You don’t want anybody to be able to intercept your internet traffic, especially if you’re using online banking. A VPN with good security features ensures that your data is safe. 

Features like an automatic kill switch, DNS leak protection, strong encryption and like AES-256 make for a secure VPN. You should also look for a strong security protocol. Most VPNs have OpenVPN and IKEv2. You should also look for a VPN that has a strict and transparent no-logs policy, especially when you’re using Chinese services.

Speed

You should also consider the speed you’ll get when you access Chinese content because VPNs almost always slow down your speed. When you connect to a VPN server, virtual or physical, your internet traffic will have to travel through that intermediary server. 

The speed also depends on other factors like encryption: typically, the stronger the encryption, the lower the speed. The key is to select a fast VPN that can keep the reduction in speed to a minimum. In some cases, you could also experience an increase in speed if your internet service provider had been throttling your speed.

Streaming Services

Getting a Chinese IP address doesn’t guarantee access to geoblocked Chinese content. Some VPNs may not be able to access Chinese TV channels or Chinese sites, even if they have servers in China. Our tests revealed that CyberGhost gets into most major sites like Youku, iQiyi and Baidu.

The 3 Best VPNs for Getting a Chinese IP Address

Based on the criteria mentioned above, we selected three VPNs that are best for getting a Chinese IP address. We recommend CyberGhost because it offers an excellent portfolio of features and security, and gets into major Chinese content websites. 

1. CyberGhost

CyberGhost has one of the largest server networks of any VPN with around 7,800 servers, with 12 virtual servers in China. It gets into all major Chinese sites like iQiyi, Baidu and CCTV. CyberGhost tops the list because it offers a comprehensive feature portfolio that includes split tunneling, dedicated streaming and torrenting servers, and automation features.

It now also has WireGuard, which offers a good combination of speed and security. Plus, it has an excellent user interface that’s easy to get used to. To learn about all features, check out our CyberGhost review.

It uses AES-256 encryption and IKEv2, OpenVPN and WireGuard protocols. Alternatively, you can use ChaCha20 with WireGuard, which is just as secure as AES-256. CyberGhost has a strict no-logs policy too. If you want, you can take it for a spin using its generous 45-day money-back guarantee.

CyberGhost Plans

• *The $56.94 price under the 2-year plan is billed yearly after the first two years.
• Unlimited GB
• 7
• Yes

45-days money-back guarantee

1-month plan, 6-months plan

1-month plan

$12.99/month

6-months plan

$6.99/month

$41.94 billed every 6 month

Save 46%

2-year plan

$2.37/month

$56.94 billed every 2 years

Save 81%

2. Private Internet Access

Private Internet Access (PIA) is a fast and secure VPN that has servers in over 100 locations, which include virtual server locations in China. It has pretty much all the security features you’d want in a VPN including an automatic kill switch, DNS leak protection, strong encryption and a strict no-logs policy.

PIA has a decent customizable and docked interface. However, it would be better if the interface didn’t close every time you click outside it. PIA also comes with a built-in ad and malware blocker.

If you need more information before deciding, consider reading our PIA review. Alternatively, you can use the 30-day money-back guarantee to try the VPN yourself. If you aren’t satisfied, you can always claim a full refund.

Standard Plans

• 10
• Yes

30-days money-back guarantee

1-month plan, 3-year plan

1-month plan

$11.95/month

3-year plan

$2.19/month

$79 billed every 3 years

Save 81%

1-year plan

$4.17/month

$49.99 billed every year

Save 65%

3. HideMyAss

HideMyAss doesn’t have the largest server count (1,000 servers), but it has servers in 200 countries, with four virtual servers in China. HideMyAss has a user-friendly interface and security features like a kill switch, IP shuffle and AES-256 encryption, but has a questionable privacy policy.

The privacy policy clearly mentions that the user’s originating IP address and domain names will be logged when using the free HideMyAss proxy, even though HideMyAss claims that it’s a no-logs VPN. Plus, HideMyAss is owned by Avast, a company that has collected and sold user data in the past. Read more about its features and privacy in our HideMyAss review, and be sure to check out our HideMyAss alternative guide.

HideMyAss isn’t one of the fastest VPNs either. If you’re streaming HD videos or connected to a distant server, you may experience some buffering. However, HideMyAss has a decent cost, so long as you opt for a long-term plan.

It offers a seven-day free trial and a 30-day money-back guarantee. However, we had a poor experience with the money-back guarantee. Customer support took around three months to reply and send a refund.

30-days money-back guarantee

HMA 5 simultaneous connections

• 7-day free trial option
• Unlimited GB
• 5

1-month plan, 6-months plan, 1-year plan, 2-year plan

1-month plan

$11.99/month

6-months plan

$8.99/month

$53.94 billed every 6 month

Save 25%

1-year plan

$4.99/month

$59.88 billed every year

Save 58%

2-year plan

$4.99/month

$119.76 billed every 2 years

Save 58%

3-year plan

$2.99/month

$107.64 billed every 3 years

Save 75%

HMA 10 simultaneous connections

• Unlimited GB
• 10

1-year plan, 2-year plan

1-year plan

$7.99/month

$95.88 billed every year

2-year plan

$6.99/month

$167.76 billed every 2 years

Save 12%

3-year plan

$5.99/month

$215.64 billed every 3 years

Save 25%

Can I Use a Free VPN to Get a Free Chinese IP Address?

Most free VPNs are unreliable and insecure. They lack adequate security features, keep logs or offer slow speeds. This is especially true of the worst free VPNs out there. 

There are a few good free VPNs too, but none of them have servers in mainland China. Getting a free China IP address using a VPN with questionable policies is a bad idea. Instead, consider a low-cost alternative like PIA or the 45-day money-back guarantee from CyberGhost.

What Are the Dangers of Using VPNs for a China IP Address?

Freedom House rates China’s internet as “not free.” The Chinese government heavily monitors internet activity and controls internet use in the country. Posting content online against the country’s leadership can put you behind bars. Learn more about VPNs in China in our best VPNs for China guide.

When you use a China IP address and access the Chinese internet, you’re subject to the same intrusive monitoring of online data. However, when you use a secure VPN like CyberGhost, you can worry less about the government getting access to your data because they won’t be able to decrypt it.

Final Thoughts

The easiest way to get a Chinese IP address is using a VPN, and you’ll need a VPN that has virtual Chinese servers. The best VPN for the job is CyberGhost. Free VPNs aren’t a good idea, and none of the free VPNs we recommend have virtual servers in China. Instead, you should consider a low-cost VPN like PIA.

If you’re looking to get an IP address in Africa, we have covered how to get an IP address in Morroco, how to get an IP address in Nigeria and how to get an IP address in Kenya.

Have you used a China IP address before? If yes, which VPN did you use? Were you able to stream videos without any buffering? Let us know in the comments below, and as always, thanks for reading.

FAQ

• Which VPN Has a China Server?

  VPNs like CyberGhost and Private Internet Access have virtual servers in China. You can get a China IP address using several other VPNs as well, but you should consider the security and speed that the VPN offers, among other things.

• Can You VPN Into China?

  Yes, you can. However, not all VPNs that can get you a China IP address will be able to access geoblocked websites. If you want to get a Chinese IP because you’re trying to access geoblocked Chinese websites, your best options are CyberGhost, Private Internet Access or HideMyAss.

• Why Is My IP Address in China?

  There are two reasons why your IP address is based in China. You’re either located in China and your ISP has issued you a Chinese IP address, or you’re using a VPN or proxy and are connected to a server in China.

• How Do I Connect to Chinese Websites?

  You’ll first need to get a China IP address by connecting with one of the virtual VPN server locations in China. To do this, sign up with a VPN service provider that has virtual China servers, install the app and connect with one of the “China” servers. You should now be able to access Chinese websites.