How to Unblock YouTube in China: A Tutorial Guide

December 22, 2025 By Janne Smith No Comments 5 minutes

A reliable VPN can help you unblock YouTube in China. There are other methods to bypass the Firewall as well, but none of them are guaranteed to work. Similar to YouTube, TikTok, Facebook, and various other social media apps are banned in China. 

This guide covers ways to unblock YouTube in China if you’re travelling, why YouTube is blocked in China, and YouTube in China alternative. Following that, we’ll walk you through the answers to frequently asked questions and a final note.

Note: We strongly advise against using any VPN in China to engage in malicious or anti-government activities. This guide only recommends the use of a VPN for accessing YouTube in China as a traveller.

How to Unblock YouTube in China

YouTube is the 4th largest social media service used globally. Same as other social media apps, it is inaccessible in China. The Chinese government restricts access to most social media platforms via its Great Firewall. 

The Great Firewall was deployed to segregate the Chinese cyberspace from the outside world’s information. This enables the government to avoid Western information penetrating and influencing the citizens.

However, if you’re traveling to China, you can still access YouTube, Facebook, and other social media platforms. Here are our trusted ways to bypass the Great Firewall in China: 

1. Use a VPN

The Great Firewall is far more sophisticated than often perceived. It is now seeing a major advancement with AI integration, helping it detect and block VPNs or other tools used to bypass the Firewall. 

This is why we recommend using a reliable VPN that helps you hop over the limitations in no time. Download the VPN before you reach China. As the VPN sites are blocked and you won’t be able to download the VPN app.

We recommend only using a reliable VPN that offers the features to bypass the Great Firewall. For example, FastestVPN is a trusted choice for accessing geo-limits and accessing YouTube in China. 

2. Use a Proxy

Using a proxy isn’t entirely legal in China. Some legal options do exist, but they aren’t as effective as a VPN. Proxies allow you to access geo-restricted sites or scrape data. However, these aren’t as secure as a VPN. A standard proxy can help you with basic data, but it might not always be effective for unblocking YouTube. 

The Great Firewall actively blocked known proxy server IP addresses. This makes it challenging to find a working proxy for YouTube. Moreover, proxies that don’t encrypt traffic are easily detected. 

3. TOR Browser

TOR (The Onion Router) Browser helps bypass limitations and access global content. As the name suggests, TOR works by encrypting your internet traffic and bouncing it through a global network of volunteer-run servers, i.e., relays. These layers resemble the layers of an onion. 

Using the TOR might also work to unblock YouTube in China. It routes the Internet traffic via its decentralized network, using bridges. These help conceal connections from China’s Great Firewall. 

Why Is YouTube Blocked in China?

YouTube is blocked in China due to the Great Firewall. The Chinese government blocks hundreds of thousands of websites to limit Western information influencing Chinese citizens. Here are the key reasons why YouTube is blocked in China: 

1. Content and Information Control

YouTube hosts a massive amount of user-generated content (UGC). Some of these might be critical of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). The government views foreign social media platforms as potential tools for anti-government activities. 

2. National Security and Data Control

YouTube doesn’t comply with Chinese censorship policies, such as locating its servers within mainland China. The government requires the user data for Chinese citizens to be stored in China for national security reasons. And, YouTube doesn’t accept them. 

3. Promotion of Domestic Industries

The Chinese government blocks major foreign competitors, such as YouTube and Facebook, to create a captive market. This allows local social media platforms to flourish without international competition. This helps the government’s economy. 

Does YouTube Work in China With a VPN?

Yes, YouTube works in China with a VPN. Ensure that you download the VPN app before travelling to China, as the VPN websites will be accessible once you’re in that region. For example, before you leave for China, install FastestVPN on your preferred device via the App/Play Store or directly via the website. 

The Best VPN for YouTube in China

We recommend FastestVPN as the best VPN for YouTube in China. FastestVPN offers 800+ servers and stands out as the best VPN for bypassing geo-limits. However, you must subscribe to the VPN and install its app before traveling to China, as the VPN sites will be inaccessible there. 

Final Note

You can unblock YouTube in China using a reliable VPN. We recommend using FastestVPN to bypass the Great Firewall. However, you must install the VPN app before traveling to China, as the VPN websites are blocked there. 

Using a VPN isn’t limited to bypassing the geo-limits. VPNs are meant to protect your online privacy and security and ensure an anonymous browsing experience. FastestVPN offers a range of privacy and security features, including a military-grade AES 256-bit encryption, to ensure elevated privacy when browsing the web.

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