Tunnelz

China trip guide

Does Facebook work in China?

Not on Chinese networks. Facebook and Messenger are blocked in mainland China, hotel Wi-Fi included. To stay on them, use a roaming eSIM on your phone, or a VPN on Wi-Fi and on a laptop, and turn on two-factor login with an authentication app before you fly.

Updated

On Chinese networks aloneWith a roaming eSIM or a VPN doesn’t load usually gets throughOn Chinese networks alone doesn’t load With an eSIM or a VPN usually gets through
Fig. 01
The block is on the network, so it covers mobile data on a Chinese SIM and hotel Wi-Fi alike. Simplified.

What’s blocked, and what people use

Facebook has been blocked in mainland China since 2009. Messenger is blocked too, and so are Meta’s Instagram and WhatsApp. The block is on the network, so it covers mobile data on a Chinese SIM and hotel Wi-Fi alike.

People in China use WeChat to message and call, and Weibo to post. If you’ll meet people there, getting WeChat before you fly makes it easy to stay in touch with them.

Blocked in mainland China

  • Facebook
  • Messenger
  • Instagram
  • WhatsApp

What people in China use

  • WeChat
  • Weibo
Fig. 02
Facebook has been blocked since 2009.

Ways to stay on Facebook

  • On your phone’s mobile data: a roaming or travel eSIM that routes data outside mainland China usually gets Facebook and Messenger through.

  • On hotel Wi-Fi: it’s a Chinese network, so you need a VPN.

  • On your Mac: use facebook.com and messenger.com in your browser, with a VPN on.

Fig. 03
Three ways to stay on Facebook.

Before you fly

  1. 1. Update Facebook and Messenger at home and stay logged in on your phone.

  2. 2. Turn on two-factor login with an authentication app. Facebook asks for a login code when you log in on a browser or device it doesn’t recognise, and an app gives you codes without needing texts.

  3. 3. Save your recovery codes. Facebook gives you ten, for when you can’t use your phone.

Fig. 04
Three things to do before you fly.

Where Tunnelz fits

Tunnelz covers the Mac on hotel Wi-Fi: it sends Facebook and Messenger through your own server, not shared with thousands. The Smart route sends Chinese sites direct, so WeChat and Weibo stay fast. If your server is ever blocked, Replace Server can set up a new one in minutes, as long as the app can reach Vultr. In China that may take eSIM data or another network (how).

  • Facebook and Messenger

    Go through your own server, not shared with thousands.

  • Chinese sites

    Go direct, so WeChat and Weibo stay fast.

Fig. 05
The Smart route on your Mac, on hotel Wi-Fi. Simplified. No route is promised to stay open.

Only have a phone? A roaming eSIM usually covers this today; Tunnelz for iPhone is coming.

Questions

Can I use Facebook in China?
Yes, if you get past the block: a roaming eSIM that routes data outside mainland China on your phone, or a VPN on Wi-Fi and on a laptop. On Chinese networks alone, Facebook doesn’t load.
Does Messenger work in China?
Not on Chinese networks: Messenger is blocked along with Facebook. It works over a roaming eSIM that routes data outside mainland China, or with a VPN.
Will Facebook lock me out when I log in from China?
Facebook asks for a login code on a browser or device it doesn’t recognise. Turn on two-factor login with an authentication app and save your recovery codes before you fly, so you can always get a code.
What do people in China use instead of Facebook?
WeChat to message and call, and Weibo to post. Both work on Chinese networks without a VPN.

Sources