Telegram is a popular messaging app that has has been banned in China. The app, which is known for its encrypted messaging and large file sharing capabilities, was banned by the Chinese government in 2015 due to its use by political dissidents to organize and share information.
The ban on Telegram has been enforced by the Great Firewall of China, a system of internet censorship that blocks access to certain websites and online services within the country. As a result, people living in China are unable to access or use Telegram, unless they use a VPN to bypass the Great Firewall.
The Great Firewall of China does not stop at blocking Telegram, in fact, just about every messaging app available in the West is completely restricted by Chinese authorities. Such apps include WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, and Snapchat just to name a few. Most global websites, news outlets, and search engines are also blocked, that’s right even Google is not available in China.
As you can imagine, with such restrictive measures in place, Chinese internet users could benefit from using Telegram for encrypted Chinese chat groups, or Chinese news sharing rooms. So, how do you unblock Telegram in China?
A VPN, or Virtual Private Network, is a tool that allows users to encrypt their internet connection and change their virtual location, making it appear as if they are accessing the internet from a different country. This is useful for a number of reasons, including accessing content that is only available in certain regions and protecting your online privacy and security. Therefore, it makes a perfect tool to unblock Telegram in China.
While using a VPN is an effective way to bypass the ban on Telegram in China, it is important to choose a reputable and reliable VPN provider. This is because not all VPNs are able to bypass the Great Firewall of China, and some may even be blocked by the government, and detecting can even spell trouble for the user.
To access Telegram in China, it is important to use a VPN that has the following features:
The latest security VPN encryption has to offer, make sure to use a VPN that seems to be well maintained and using the latest and strongest encryption. Next, make sure there are enough servers in the countries you expect to connect to the most, so that if some server speeds are slow, you’re still likely to find a fast one. Check that applications are available and compatible for the device you want to use, and finally, a VPN with a kill switch to protect your device if the encrypted connection is lost suddenly makes a much better choice for China. Having a money back guarantee can also be a requirement so that you can cancel your subscription if the service does not work well. Let’s recap:
- Use an up-to-date VPN with the latest security and encryption.
- Select a VPN with lots of servers in the countries you plan to connect to the most.
- Ensure that there are compatible apps for all your devices.
- A VPN kill switch feature will protect you from being detected if the VPN connection fails.
- Money Back Guarantee in case the VPN is blocked by the Great Firewall of China.
If you are living in China and want to access Telegram, we recommend using a reputable VPN provider such as ExpressVPN. ExpressVPN has servers in multiple countries, including countries where Telegram is not banned, and offers strong encryption and security to protect your online privacy.
In conclusion, Telegram is banned in China due to its use by political dissidents. To access the app in China, you will need to use a VPN to bypass the Great Firewall of China. We recommend using a reputable VPN provider such as the ones chosen as “Best VPNs for China” to ensure you can access Telegram safely and securely.
How to Access Telegram in China with a VPN:
To unblock Telegram on any device, you simply need to use a VPN as described in the following steps.
- Choose a good VPN service, like the ones I have recommended, and subscribe.
- Install the VPN applications on the devices you plan to use.
- Login to your VPN app and select a server outside of China where Telegram is not blocked.
- Download and Install Telegram on your device, and finally, launch and start using Telegram.
It really is that easy, but you might have already tried and failed, or heard of other users complaining that their VPN was being blocked when attempting to use it in China. If this happens, there are some steps to take to attempt to get the VPN to work properly.
How to Fix a Blocked VPN in China
Chinese authorities will employ different measures to detect VPN usage. Sometimes they will block vast lists of IP addresses, but this is not always very effective as you can always choose different servers. Chinese ISPs will also track web browser cookies, history, and currently logged accounts to detect possible VPN connection and IP changes. Here are some easy steps to take to fix blocked VPNs in China:
- Log out of your VPN, and log out of all your personal and private email, social media and streaming accounts. If it has a login, simply logout for now.
- Clear your browser’s cache and cookies. If you use more than one browser or device, repeat steps 1 and 2 for each one.
- Login to your VPN app again, and connect to a server.
- Test access to blocked websites and apps and it should now work.
That’s all! In just a few easy steps, you can unblock Telegram In China without much trouble.
As mentioned, Telegram is unfortunately far from the only service that is blocked from Chinese internet users. The vast list of websites, services, news outlets and apps that are simply not available make using the internet quite a limited experience. Censorship and controlling the narrative are a real issue. I hope my article and guide on how to properly select a VPN for China, and how to bypass Chinese VPN blocking measures can come in handy in helping you gain your internet freedom back.
