Is YouTube banned in China? Sadly, it is, with the rest of Google’s services. The YouTube ban in China started in 2009, and even in 2026 it still stands strong, with no hope in sight. That is, unless you use a VPN, which lets you unblock YouTube in China and access all restricted apps and sites with it. This guide explains how to unblock and use YouTube in China and lists the best VPNs that still work in China for bypassing the Great Firewall in June 2026.
Unblock YouTube in China: How to Get Unlimited Access With a VPN
- Get a VPN that works in China. Based on our June tests, NordVPN is the best one thanks to obfuscated servers and fast speeds.
- Set up the VPN on your device.
- Launch the VPN and sign in.
- Connect to an obfuscated server outside China. Pick Hong Kong or any other server where YouTube works uninterrupted.
- Watch YouTube in China and enjoy all the content.
What is the Best Way to Unblock YouTube in China?
Unblocking a blocked website in China boils down to bypassing its Great Firewall. The best, most effective method has always been a VPN. It encrypts your traffic and routes it through a remote server in a different location, hiding your IP address. For instance, you could be in China and connect to a server in Japan. As YouTube is accessible there, you should have no issues using it. Truth is, the restrictions are so formidable that most VPNs struggle to beat them.
However, if you use a VPN built to bypass censorship in China, you can unblock YouTube and other banned services like WhatsApp, Telegram, etc.
How to Unblock YouTube in China: Full Tutorial
To unblock YouTube in China and watch videos freely, use a VPN that truly works there. On a recent trip to Shanghai and a bit of Beijing, we used NordVPN, and its obfuscated servers in all the key locations worked particularly well. If you haven’t subscribed to NordVPN yet, I will warn you to do so before you go to China because it blocks most VPN websites, and that includes NordVPN (I checked many times). So first, do it below and get a 73% discount.
After that, download and install NordVPN on the devices you’ll carry with you in China. You can use NordVPN on 10 devices at a time.
From there, click All Locations and select Obfuscated at the top. You’ll have a list of all the obfuscated servers from NordVPN, and I advise the closest one to still get fast speeds and stable performance for streaming YouTube in China. I often used Hong Kong, Italy, and US servers, and had zero issues. With the UK server, which I tested once, NordVPN was blocked.
All that’s left is to finally unblock YouTube in China. You just need to type the address, press Enter, and it’ll work regularly. You can even sign in to your account and keep watching your favorite content in China.
Best VPNs to Unblock YouTube in China (Works in 2026)
These 3 VPNs can unblock YouTube in China, helping you access content at school, on a busy train ride, or in the workplace. Here’s precisely what made them our preferred VPNs for this censored country:
9200 servers
128 covered countries
30 days money-back guarantee
10 simultaneous connections
9.4 /10
3000 servers
105 covered countries
30 days money-back guarantee
10 simultaneous connections
9.1 /10
4500 servers
100 covered countries
30 days money-back guarantee
Unlimited connections
8.7 /10
1. NordVPN: Unblock YouTube in China Reliably
Pros
- Obfuscated servers
- Fast speeds
- Audited by Deloitte
- Double VPN protection
- Malware blocking
Con
- Higher renewal price
Arguably the best VPN service out there, NordVPN unblocks YouTube in China and works in most parts of the country, offering what we call a nearly flawless experience. In tests, on our 1-week trip, NordVPN was reliable, bypassing the Great Firewall on obfuscated servers in Italy, the US, and Hong Kong. We unblocked YouTube, Viber, Facebook, and Instagram without special tweaks. The VPN even offers Threat Protection Pro, which we heavily used.
It blocks ads, trackers, and malware, crucial when trying to sneak past the firewall and avoid excessive surveillance. NordVPN’s connection speeds were stable, and with NordLynx, our speed losses never went over 15% on the Hong Kong server, even with obfuscation. The VPN is also privacy-friendly, with a no-log policy audited by Deloitte in February 2026 for the sixth consecutive time. All this comes at a fair price of $3/mo and with a 30-day refund policy.
2. ExpressVPN: Fast VPN to Stream YouTube in China
Pros
- Easy-to-use apps
- Automatic obfuscation
- Internet kill switch
- Blocks ads and trackers
- Fast speeds in China
Cons
- Short 3-day trial
- Light on features
ExpressVPN is another excellent choice for watching YouTube in China. It’s also a good VPN for streaming YouTube TV anywhere. Based on our ExpressVPN review, we can say it works seamlessly in China thanks to automatic obfuscation, which you don’t have to tweak. Simply connect to a server, and you’re set. We tested ExpressVPN’s Hong Kong server in China, and it flew past the firewall, though European servers mostly struggled with connections.
Despite that, ExpressVPN was fast, and its Lightway protocol never dropped our speeds by more than 20%. With ExpressVPN, we unblocked virtually everything in China, from YouTube to social media apps and even VoIP services, like Telegram and WhatsApp. ExpressVPN is user-friendly, with apps for all devices. It’s also affordable, with ExpressVPN promotions often dropping the price to $2.49 per month and including 4 free months. Check it out below.
3. Surfshark: Best China YouTube VPN Under $2/mo
Pros
- Unlimited devices
- Fast VPN protocols
- NoBorders mode
- Optional antivirus
Cons
- Complex UI
- Takes long to connect
Surfshark makes this list as the best cheap VPN for watching YouTube in China. We tested its NoBorders mode, and no matter the server we chose, it worked well, except for a few VPN servers in Europe, like Germany and France. Surfshark starts at only $1.99 per month, and at this price, you also get ad-blocking, servers in 100 countries, and WireGuard, which makes it very fast and stable. On macOS, we also tested its new Dausos protocol with solid results.
With Dausos and WireGuard, speeds were identical and never dropped by more than 23% compared to our base speeds. Surfshark was also great for streaming. We unblocked BBC iPlayer and Netflix in China, and with its browser extension, we even spoofed our location to access ESPN. It’s a shame it takes longer to connect in China and that it’s interfce is complex for beginners. Get this Surfshark coupon and save over 83% on all 2-year plans in June 2026.
Can You Access YouTube in China With a Free VPN?
No, there’s almost no chance a free VPN will unblock YouTube in China. The Great Firewall isn’t something free VPNs are built to handle. They simply don’t have the advanced features or resources to bypass it. Let’s say you somehow manage to connect. Even then, you’re looking at congested servers, slow speeds, constant drops, and bandwidth caps from most free VPNs. Not ideal for streaming YouTube, especially not in HD or Full HD, as it’s intended.
For your information, we made a list of the best free VPNs for China, and some work, but not very reliably. The point still stands: The experience is limited, frustrating, and sub-optimal for bandwidth-intensive activities.
Conclusion
YouTube remains blocked in China for the time being, and if you want to skip all the hassle and just unblock it with a click, a VPN is a no-brainer. We outlined the best ones in the guide, but the one we keep returning to is NordVPN. Obfuscated servers, fast connections, apps for all devices, and privacy, you really get everything you need to watch YouTube in China.
ExpressVPN and Surfshark are great alternatives on a budget, with obfuscation and consistent performance in the country. Try the best one risk-free and enjoy a generous 30-day money-back guarantee on all plans.
Frequently Asked Questions
⛔ Is YouTube blocked in China?
Yes, YouTube has been blocked in China since 2009. The only way to use YouTube in China is with a VPN, and NordVPN is the most popular one, with obfuscated servers that bypass the Great Firewall most efficiently.
▶️ Does China have YouTube?
No, it doesn't. People in China have no access to the popular platform, but they can use a VPN or even an eSIM card, which unblocks access to most blocked sites and apps in this country. There's also no Chinese version of the platform, unlike TikTok, which has its own Chinese version called Douyin.
🟢 How to use YouTube in China?
The best way is to just use a VPN to unblock it. However, you can also get an eSIM for China that also unblocks the platform without a VPN.