Help With Internet In China

[ukanonymous]

Hey peepsies so we had a business meeting in China the problem is my google translate etc isn’t working. Sure I can live with out YouTube etc but I do need some google type things. I already downloaded a vpn but when I try connect it the wifi just litterally cuts off the wifi connection on my phone. I am quite a tech nerd but only coding the network stuff isn’t my forte. So aside getting a simcard and connecting via 4g with vpn ( this worked but already out of data) is there anyway around that? I can’t even google a solution lolsies. Merci buckets

[Buenchico]

China's Golden Shield project blocks access to Google's international servers, as well as seeking to block the use of VPNs which aren't authorised by the Chinese government.

Your best chance of getting access to those Google services which are allowed in China might well be to use the authorised Google servers (which, of course, are heavily censored) at https://www.google.com.hk/

Alternatively you might be able to use Baidu.com, which is the Chinese equivalent of Google: https://www.baidu.com/

Otherwise you might need to manually configure your VPN (which, I assume, is being seen as 'unauthorised' by the Chinese authorities), in order to get around the state ban on it. See here:
https://nordvpn.com/blog/vpn-for-china/

[ukanonymous]

That’s a great answer but I can’t even access the Nord website to get the details how to configure it :(

[ukanonymous]

Luckily I have Nord on my devices

[Buenchico]

I was hoping that when I clicked through to the instructions for a particular operating system (such as Windows or Android) on the NordVPN website, I'd find the relevant instructions, which I could then post on here. Alas, irrespective of the operating system that I select, I encounter this message:
"Note: Unfortunately, we are currently experiencing some issues with connectivity in the region of China as our server configurations for manual connections and applications were recently blocked. Our developers are aware of the issue and are working to fix it as soon as possible. We apologize for the inconvenience — your patience is greatly appreciated."

So all that's left to try is the general advice on main info page:

"The Chinese government works hard to prevent the usage of VPNs, so don’t be surprised if one day you won’t be able to connect to your favorite server. In China, VPN traffic can be detected by the Great Firewall, which will block the server you’re connected to. China’s firewall is like a living organism — always evolving and searching for new ways to restrict the free internet.

NordVPN is constantly working to circumvent restrictions in China and provide users with the best service. However, if you’re experiencing connectivity issues, here are a few quick tips that might help:

Make sure the VPN protocol in the NordVPN app is set to NordLynx. Navigate to “Settings” and look for the VPN protocol. Then, select it and change it to NordLynx.

If the problem persists, jump between servers. There’s a chance that a server you’ve been using was blocked, so you can try to find another one working in China."

(Alternatively, try the Google Hong Kong link above).