Perhaps it’s vacation time for you, and you’re packing your bags to go to China. On top of that, you have your NordVPN apps installed on all your devices. Now, there’s one question burning inside your brain: Is NordVPN working in China? The answer is a resounding YES, as confirmed in our tests in 2026.
This provider is famous for its feature-rich apps with anti-censorship features. Its security and privacy are at the highest level, making it suitable for avoiding censorship, government surveillance, and website blocks. So, let’s demonstrate how to use NordVPN in China and provide a few tips to make it even more reliable.
We’ll also explore the reasons behind using NordVPN in China and include a quick guide for troubleshooting if the VPN refuses to connect. Let’s get down to business.
What’s the Deal With NordVPN in China?
China is known for severe censorship that goes way beyond website restrictions. In a recent post about VPNs working in China, we clarified that the authorities use surveillance to track their residents online. This, with over 10,000 blocked sites, results in an internet crisis spanning the entire country.
Unfortunately, the crisis spills over to VPNs, as the authorities block not only VPN sites but their apps. Using DPI or Deep Packet Inspection, they can restrict VPN connections. Our research leads us to shocking results. Thanks to our testers in this country, we noticed that most VPNs don’t work there.
But does NordVPN work in China? Fortunately for us, it does thanks to obfuscation. We’ll explain what it is and how it works in the next section.
How Does NordVPN Work in China?
The backbone of its reliability in China is obfuscation, or obfuscated servers. These servers mask your VPN connection, making it look like a regular one. This tricks the Great Firewall of China into believing you’re not using a VPN, and in turn, allows you to go online freely. As you can guess, not all VPNs offer obfuscation.
A notable example is CyberGhost. This VPN doesn’t work in China in 2026 and is instantly blocked. NordVPN offers obfuscated servers on all platforms, so you can enjoy your internet freedom even on the go, on your phone, tablet, or laptop. It’s noteworthy that obfuscation only works with OpenVPN TCP.
OpenVPN TCP works better for website restrictions and censorship, as opposed to the UDP protocol, which is a bit faster. To complement it, NordVPN recently introduced NordWhisper, a protocol designed for sidestepping network filtering. It also works in China, but it works a bit better with milder censorship measures.
Let’s explain how to use NordVPN in China and get the best results.
Using NordVPN in China: Important Steps
We’ll assume you’ve already subscribed to it. If not, you can use our site to get a staggering 70% discount on its 2-year Basic plan. The Basic plan is the least expensive, at around $2.99 to $3.39 per month, and offers all of NordVPN’s features you’ll need to use it in China without a fuss. Click below to start.
Already done? Follow these simple steps.
- Open NordVPN’s app and sign in with your credentials.
- Go to Settings (Gear icon) and select Kill Switch.
- Toggle the Internet Kill Switch ON.
- Go back to the home screen and select Specialty Servers.
- Click Obfuscated Servers to connect to one.
If you want to choose a server, click on the three horizontal dots right next to Obfuscated Servers, and choose one from the drop-down menu. NordVPN offers them in the UK, the US, the UAE, Hong Kong, Canada, France, and other countries. As you can see, we also recommend using a kill switch in this country.
A kill switch disables your internet connection if the VPN connection breaks. This protects you against IP and DNS leaks and keeps your privacy intact in China. If you can’t find obfuscated servers on iOS or Android, set the protocol to OpenVPN TCP manually. They’ll appear on the server list after that. To do this:
- Navigate to Settings using the Gear icon.
- Tap the Protocol menu.
- Select OpenVPN TCP.
- Go back to the app’s home screen and select Specialty Servers.
- Tap on Obfuscated Servers to connect to the fastest one. Alternatively, select the specific location the same way as before.
Can You Subscribe to NordVPN in China?
Our guide has covered an efficient way to use NordVPN in China if you have its apps. But what if you’re already there? Can you subscribe to this VPN? Unfortunately, the answer is negative for the most part. We explained that this country blocks VPNs. Apart from such connections, VPN sites are also blocked.
This results in the inability to subscribe to most providers, except for those authorized by the government. In our experience, no-log VPNs like NordVPN, ExpressVPN, and others aren’t. That’s because these providers don’t store logs and can’t provide the government with user-related data; that’s the main issue.
The best you can do is to go to Hong Kong, which is far less censored and allows VPNs. You can subscribe to NordVPN there, equip your device with its apps, and use it on the mainland. Another option is to visit tourist hotels with uncensored networks. Connect to a WiFi network, download NordVPN in China, and you’re set.
Bypass Chinese Censorship With NordVPN
Why Use NordVPN in China?
In this section, we’ll explore the reasons for using NordVPN in China and see what it has to offer to people in this heavily censored region. These three benefits are the main reasons you need a VPN in China.
🥸 Avoiding Censorship & Surveillance
By far the most prevalent reason to install NordVPN in China is to beat censorship. Are you tired of not being able to use Google, YouTube, Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, or X? Well, a VPN’s ability to alter your IP can give you access to all in seconds. Changing your IP address with a VPN comes with the security you need.
NordVPN uses AES-256 (post-quantum) encryption, a kill switch, a no-log policy, and RAM-only servers to keep snoopers away. Surveillance means the authorities track your every step online and in real life (seriously). NordVPN masks your digital footprint, which makes your connection look like a garbled mess to an observer.
With an unreliable connection, no one will know what you do online. Not even your ISP or the authorities. NordVPN and other VPNs often hide your browsing history, making them great for watching porn anonymously, downloading torrents, or simply having peace of mind whenever you venture online.
🚧 Unblocking Websites & Apps
Unblocking sites is paramount for enjoying the internet in China. Since we mentioned the word, NordVPN can also unblock Paramount Plus if you so desire, but that’s only the tip of the iceberg. Streaming sites, gambling platforms, and even porn will be readily available with a click of a mouse or a tap on the screen.
This means pure enjoyment in Netflix, bet365, BBC iPlayer, Steam, and other services. Of course, this applies to applications you can’t download in China. For example, certain VoIP services will be accessible, such as regular Skype, substituted for TOM-Skype, which the Chinese government uses to enforce surveillance.
🥷 Torrenting Anonymously
Does NordVPN work in China for torrenting? Yes, of course. Apart from obfuscation, its servers are P2P-friendly, allowing for torrenting without restrictions. With all the privacy, security, and speed you get, P2P file-sharing will be uninterrupted and quick, thanks to minimal, if at all present, speed reductions.
NordVPN Not Working in China: How to Fix It?
While our experience shows that NordVPN works in China, we won’t say this is always true. China updates its Great Firewall to improve its anti-VPN measures and strengthen its grip on the internet. Consequently, this impacts VPNs. At the time of reading, NordVPN might struggle to work in the country for you.
Even if you enable obfuscation and a kill switch, you may still face issues. Being stuck between a rock and a hard place isn’t nice, but you can attempt a few repairs. You can check for IP leaks. If your original IP address is leaking, it will nullify the effect of NordVPN and still cause website blocks and other issues.
If there’s an IP leak, enable the kill switch. You can also use NordVPN’s browser extension. It supports location spoofing and WebRTC leak protection to further mask your original location. A browser can also cause issues (cache and cookies). Clearing browsing data and restarting the browser should, in most cases, work.
We know we mentioned this, but using an obfuscated server is always recommended. Before you begin to panic, make sure your connection is obfuscated. If everything fails, contact NordVPN’s customer support. Its 24/7 service tackles issues and resolves them. They’ll explain what to do to make NordVPN work in China properly.
Is It Legal to Use NordVPN in China?
Yes, it is. Unlike North Korea, Sudan, and a few other countries, China’s VPN-related laws aren’t so radical. It’s legal to use a VPN here, but because of the ruling party’s politics, it’s heavily restricted. Understandably so, given the VPN’s ability to hide your online activities and stop surveillance in its tracks.
According to many people’s experiences, the authorities usually target corporations for their VPN use. As an individual, you can use NordVPN in China or any other provider without legal repercussions. We’ve heard cases of the police deleting VPN apps from people’s phones amidst police searches.
This is rare and won’t land you in jail. The worst that can happen is the app being deleted. However, you can always reinstall it by downloading it on a non-censored network or by using the setup file on your device.
Summary
So, is NordVPN working in China in 2026? According to our tests, it does surprisingly well. If you use obfuscated servers and enable a kill switch, you’ll have no problems using the internet in this country freely. If you can, the best thing is to install the app before traveling to the mainland.
This will ensure you can connect as soon as you cross the Chinese border and roam the internet without restrictions. Start with NordVPN risk-free below and claim your 70% discount for all biennial plans.