So, does ExpressVPN work in China right now? After testing it extensively, we can confirm it works really well, bypassing the Great Firewall and unblocking restricted services and apps. It is worth noting that the provider occasionally faces issues, but overall, the ExpressVPN China performance is far from bad.
In fact, we ranked ExpressVPN very high on our list of the best VPNs for China. It offers built-in obfuscation and the latest security features and technologies, making it nearly perfect for this kind of environment. This guide explains how ExpressVPN works in China in depth and how to set it up properly.
ExpressVPN Works in China if You do This
Censorship in China is at its highest, but we don’t doubt it’ll get worse soon. For this reason, using ExpressVPN in China is vital for preserving online freedom and staying safe online. However, to use ExpressVPN in this country, you should:
- Subscribe to ExpressVPN. Get its 81% discount with 4 free months for the 2-year Basic plan. In this setup, ExpressVPN costs under $2.45 per month.
- Download and install ExpressVPN on your device.
- Open the app and then turn on the Network Lock (kill switch) in Settings.
- Clear your browser cache.
- Connect to a VPN server you want, go online, and enjoy full internet freedom in China, thanks to ExpressVPN’s automatic obfuscation on all devices.
ExpressVPN China: Why Should I Use This VPN?
Using ExpressVPN in China yields many benefits, given this country’s delicate situation. The communist regime took control of the entire internet space and limited it severely. The authorities are looking to protect their citizens from misleading and fake information through strict internet censorship.
It’s no wonder we see thousands of blocked sites, including social media, Google services, YouTube, Netflix, betting sites, and more. On top of that, China is heavy on government surveillance. This means they will spy on your activities and react if you criticize the government, seeing you as a threat to the regime.
⚠️ The authorities in this country can spy on your conversations, read through your messages, and listen to your video and voice calls, heavily infringing on your online privacy.
Does ExpressVPN Work in China?
Does ExpressVPN work in China reliably in 2026? Yes, it does, and using ExpressVPN in China is one of the smartest moves right now. This provider uses robust 256-bit encryption and has private DNS and RAM-based servers to protect you from tracking and create ideal conditions for anonymous browsing.
Moreover, ExpressVPN’s kill switch will prevent potential IP and DNS leaks, while Advanced Protection will shield you from ads, trackers, and malicious actors. As mentioned in our ExpressVPN review, the provider comes with a certified zero-logging policy, so it stores no relevant information about you.
Even if the Chinese authorities requested the company to hand out anything, it would come out empty-handed, as it has nothing to share. Other than that, ExpressVPN has 3,000+ servers in 105 countries, and thanks to top-grade performance, you’ll be able to enjoy fast speeds and overall stability in China.
Its Lightway Turbo VPN protocol is another perk, as it’s the most dependable solution both in terms of privacy and anonymity. The service also works on all platforms, so if you’re in China, you can use it more easily. This will allow you to unblock all restricted websites and enjoy the internet as you would elsewhere.
3000 servers
105 covered countries
30 days money-back guarantee
10 simultaneous connections
9.4 /10
ExpressVPN China Setup: How to Use ExpressVPN in China?
As said, ExpressVPN works in China, but before using it in this country, there are a few tips we’d like to share from our personal experience that will help you maximize the performance and get the highest level of privacy and security. Let’s see how to use ExpressVPN in China in a step-by-step guide for 2026.
1. Subscribe to ExpressVPN and Set It Up
The first step is to subscribe to this provider. We recommend its 81% discount and 4 free months for the 24-month Basic plan. This plan, along with the others, is backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee. Once you subscribe, download ExpressVPN to your device, install it, and sign in with your credentials.
2. Turn on Network Lock
Now, it’s time to open the app and tighten up the security. First, go to Settings and enable Network Lock (kill switch). A kill switch disables your internet connection in the case your VPN connection breaks. That means it protects you from data leaks, especially important in a censored country like China.
This feature should be ON at any given moment, and it’s important if you want to make ExpressVPN work in China reliably. Besides, it’ll be a good IPv4/IPv6 leak protection, so you won’t expose yourself to the public eye even if you encounter a VPN connection problem. Tick both boxes displayed above.
3. Make Sure the App Is Updated
If you subscribed a few minutes ago, chances are that ExpressVPN has already downloaded the latest version of the app. However, if you’ve been using this provider for a while and you see this notification in the upper portion of the app’s window, don’t ignore it! Click Update Now, and ExpressVPN will do it for you.
🔴 It’s crucial to keep your VPN app up to date, as it features the newest features and improvements that will allow ExpressVPN to work in China more reliably and without issues.
4. Clear Browser Data
Just to make sure you can reliably unblock websites in China, we suggest clearing your browser cache and cookies. While a VPN will change your online location, cookies and cache can sometimes reveal your true location to the website you’re visiting. That’s why, in some cases, a VPN can’t unblock the site you want.
Due to accumulated browser data, the site detected your real location through cache and cookies in your browser. Simply go to Settings in your browser, clear everything up, and go back to ExpressVPN’s app.
5. Connect to a VPN Server
Before connecting to a server, go to the Protocol tab and select Automatic. If you’re using this VPN on Linux, use this command in the terminal:
expressvpn preferences set preferred_protocol auto
Now, simply connect to the server you want through the application. Keep in mind, however, that ExpressVPN currently recommends these servers for the best results:
- Yokohama, Japan
- Los Angeles – 5 & Santa Monica, USA
- Wembley, UK
- Marina Bay, Singapore
- Alsace, France
In addition, when you open the server list, you can opt for ExpressVPN’s Smart Location. It’s another option recommended by the provider, as it’ll automatically choose the best server based on your location and other parameters. The connection success can be determined by the application turning green.
If this happens, it means ExpressVPN is working in China, and you successfully bypassed the Great Firewall. You’re now completely anonymous and can unblock restricted websites, platforms, and portals in China.
How Does ExpressVPN Work in China?
Using ExpressVPN in China is simple, although the technology behind the VPN is complex to bypass the Great Firewall. The key, in this case, is obfuscation or obfuscation technology. The provider automatically applies obfuscation to all servers, which means it hides the fact that you’re using a VPN.
This means the sites you visit see your request as if it were coming from a standard HTTPS connection rather than a VPN connection that can be blocked. As a result, the provider is extremely efficient at bypassing deep-packet inspection (DPI) in censored countries and other restricted networks.
That’s how ExpressVPN works in China, or even NordVPN with its obfuscated servers that do the same. If you live in China, this is the only provider whose site can be accessed in this country. ExpressVPN is blocked in this country, but it has a mirror site that you can use to access it and subscribe to it even here.
However, if you’re not in China and you’re planning your vacation there, subscribe to it and install it on your devices while you’re home. This will ensure the provider works smoothly and without any problems once you arrive in Mainland China.
ExpressVPN Not Working in China: Possible Fixes
On rare occasions, you may experience some problems with ExpressVPN in China. That is normal since the Great Firewall is updated frequently, and Chinese authorities are doing their best to uphold their censorship despite all odds. But if ExpressVPN in China won’t work for you, there are a few fixes to try:
- Connecting to another server
- Clearing browser data
- Using another browser
- Updating or reinstalling the app
- Contacting customer support
For one, you can always try to connect to another server if one isn’t working. It has 3,000+ servers in 160 locations, so through trial and error, you’ll find a server that’s working properly. This may happen due to technical issues on ExpressVPN’s side as well, so waiting for the problem to be solved can also be a fix.
If you’ve connected to the server and the provider can’t unblock restricted sites, try clearing the browser data or using another browser. We often switch from Chrome to Edge and find that particular sites can be unblocked this way. Another solution is updating or even reinstalling the app if things go south.
This can solve many potential problems. If all else fails, contact 24/7 support through live chat. The support team responds immediately, and it will help you to make it work. In our experience, ExpressVPN rarely fails to work in China, and in 99% of the cases, it’ll work properly if you follow the steps above.
If not, you can go for NordVPN, as it’s an equally, if not more reliable option.
Astrill VPN or ExpressVPN for China
Before we wrap up this discussion, we quickly want to mention Astrill VPN. This provider is often a go-to option for people in China – at least on paper. In practice, the service works in the country, but it’s extremely expensive, especially with a few useful addons, as outlined in the ExpressVPN vs Astrill duel.
Truth be told, Astrill tends to be pretty reliable with its OpenWeb and Stealth VPN protocols. However, if you look at its price, it’s $12.5 to $30 a month, making it pricey for an average VPN user. Worse yet, as an entire package, it isn’t impressive. ExpressVPN is still reliable in 2026, and based on our tests, it works well.
Plus, it offers all of its features without forcing you to pay for add-ons like Astrill VPN. All in all, we can’t say we’re eager to recommend Astrill – at least here. For less than $2.45 per month, you can get ExpressVPN’s steal deal and enjoy it in China for all purposes, without buying fancy and expensive addons.
Can I Download ExpressVPN in China?
If you live in China and you’re not a foreign user, chances are you’ll be forced to download ExpressVPN in this country. However, this provider is blocked by the government, so its website is inaccessible. The good thing is that the provider has a mirror link that you can use to download the app even here.
But if you want to make sure you can download it properly, we recommend connecting to a WiFi network of a tourist hotel that isn’t heavily censored. This will allow you to access the provider’s website and subscribe to it without issues. Alternatively, you can also travel to Hong Kong, as this is an uncensored part of China.
Here, ExpressVPN works perfectly fine, and subscribing to it shouldn’t be an obstacle. Generally speaking, we recommend downloading ExpressVPN before you travel to this country. But if you’re already there, try the workarounds we mentioned or wait until you travel abroad and subscribe to the provider.
ExpressVPN China: Does it Work in 2026?
Does ExpressVPN work in China after all? Yes, the provider works reliably in this country and is one of the best options to bypass censorship, unblock restricted sites, and stay anonymous. Thanks to obfuscation, 256-bit encryption, a no-logging policy, and its in-house protocol, it’s one of the top options overall.
Enable the kill switch, set your protocol to Automatic, and keep your ExpressVPN app up to date. As long as you’re following the steps we presented and using the recommended servers, you’ll have no problems enjoying the Internet freely in China with this VPN. Now go ahead and give it a shot, risk-free.
Frequently Asked Questions
💾 What is the best ExpressVPN server to use in China?
ExpressVPN recommends some of its servers, which include countries like the US, the UK, Japan, Singapore, and France. When using ExpressVPN in China, take advantage of its Smart Location feature, where the VPN will automatically connect to the best server based on your location. It’s the safest route to take.
⭐ Does ExpressVPN have servers in China?
No, it has no servers in China, except for Hong Kong. A safe and secure VPN like ExpressVPN will never have servers in this country, physical or virtual. It doesn’t have a point having servers here because it’s censored either way, so a Chinese IP address won’t provide you with access to many sites.
🧑💻 Is ExpressVPN owned by China? Who is ExpressVPN owner?
No, it’s not. This company was independent until late 2021, when it was bought by Kape Technologies. Kape Technologies is based in the UK and owns some of the most popular VPN brands, such as CyberGhost and Private Internet Access. All of these providers are renowned for their privacy and security efforts.
ExpressVPN is legally based in the British Virgin Islands, an offshore location with no data-retention laws, far away from China or any other similar country. This is why it maintains a no-logging policy effortlessly and protects the personal information of millions of users around the world.
