List of Websites and Apps Blocked in China for 2020

What websites are blocked in China in 2020 (Updated September) This is a question that gets asked a lot, particularly among people who are planning to travel or move to China. It helps knowing what to expect, which is why I’d like to give you a comprehensive (and constantly updated) list of blocked websites in China.

Starting in the late 1990s, China began monitoring and censoring the internet within its borders. That first decade of internet censorship flew mostly under the radar.

Everything changed in 2009.

For a number of different reasons, and due to a number of different incidents, the Chinese government began to feel threatened by the free access to information for its citizens, particularly with western social media platforms.

–> I used to have a Blogspot blog in China. <what?>

–> Email was sent freely through Gmail in China. <gasp!>

–> I even read the Wall Street Journal in China. <the horror!>

Not anymore.

In order to do any of these things, I am now forced to use a VPN (in my experience, ExpressVPN has been consistently reliable in China as has NordVPN).

So as you plan your travels, your move or a business trip to China, it’s good to have an understanding of the blocked websites in China as well as the blocked apps in China.

Below, I’d like to walk you through the list, followed by my personal tips from having survived and done business in China all these years.

Note: Some of the links in this article are affiliate links, which means that at no extra cost to you, I may be compensated if you choose to use the services listed. I only recommend what I personally use and hope this free information has been useful!

List of Blocked Websites and Apps in China 2020

In this list of blocked websites in China, you’ll see that I’ve categorized each based on the type of website or app.

Hopefully this will make it easier to scan and understand.