Tunnelz

China trip guide

Does ChatGPT work in China?

No. chatgpt.com is blocked in mainland China, and OpenAI doesn’t offer ChatGPT there, or in Hong Kong or Macau. OpenAI’s guidelines say accounts used from places it doesn’t support may be blocked or suspended, so finish important work before you fly. Chinese AI apps such as DeepSeek work on Chinese networks.

Updated

  • China blocks it.

    chatgpt.com is blocked on Chinese networks, mobile data and hotel Wi-Fi alike.

  • OpenAI doesn’t support China.

    Mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau aren’t on OpenAI’s list of supported countries and territories. In 2024 OpenAI also started blocking its developer API from places it doesn’t support.

Fig. 01
The two limits, simplified.

Two separate limits

A VPN or a roaming eSIM can get past the first limit. It doesn’t change the second: that’s between you and OpenAI.

Before you fly

  1. 1. Finish what matters at home. If a project depends on ChatGPT, get the important parts done, and copy out answers you’ll need.

  2. 2. Read OpenAI’s supported countries page and decide what you’re comfortable with for your account.

  3. 3. For work, ask your employer which AI tools you may use while you’re in China.

Fig. 02
OpenAI’s guidelines say accounts used from places it doesn’t support may be blocked or suspended.

AI apps that work in China

Chinese AI apps such as DeepSeek, Doubao (from ByteDance), Kimi and Qwen (from Alibaba) work on Chinese networks without a VPN. They follow China’s content rules, so some topics get no answer, and what you type is handled under Chinese law. Don’t paste anything confidential into them.

AI apps that work on Chinese networks

  • DeepSeek
  • Doubao
  • Kimi
  • Qwen
Fig. 03
Chinese AI apps. Don’t paste anything confidential into them.

Where Tunnelz fits

Tunnelz sends your Mac’s traffic through your own server outside China, so sites blocked in China load, and the Smart route keeps Chinese sites direct and fast. It doesn’t change OpenAI’s rules about where ChatGPT is offered: whether you use your account from China is your call.

Questions

Is ChatGPT blocked in China?
Yes. chatgpt.com is blocked on Chinese networks, and OpenAI doesn’t offer ChatGPT in mainland China, Hong Kong or Macau.
Can I use my ChatGPT account while visiting China?
chatgpt.com doesn’t load on Chinese networks. A VPN or roaming eSIM gets past that, but OpenAI’s guidelines say accounts used from places it doesn’t support may be blocked or suspended. Finish important work before you fly.
What AI apps work in China?
Chinese AI apps such as DeepSeek, Doubao, Kimi and Qwen work on Chinese networks without a VPN. They follow China’s content rules, so don’t paste anything confidential into them.
Does ChatGPT work in Hong Kong?
Hong Kong isn’t blocked like the mainland, but OpenAI doesn’t list Hong Kong or Macau as supported places for ChatGPT either.

Sources