Tunnelz

China trip guide

Does Spotify work in China?

Not on Chinese networks. Spotify isn’t offered in mainland China, and its web player is blocked there. With Premium, download your playlists before you fly: they play offline as long as the app goes online once every 30 days.

Updated

  • On Chinese networks

    Spotify isn’t offered in mainland China, and its web player is blocked there.

  • With Premium, downloaded

    Your playlists play offline, as long as the app goes online once every 30 days.

Fig. 01
Why you download before you fly. Simplified.

What works, and what doesn’t

Spotify lists Hong Kong among the places it’s available, but not mainland China, and open.spotify.com is blocked on Chinese networks. People in China listen on Chinese apps such as NetEase Cloud Music and QQ Music.

What people in China use

  • NetEase Cloud Music
  • QQ Music

Available in Hong Kong, not the mainland

  • Spotify
Fig. 02
What people in China listen on, and where Spotify is available.

Download before you fly

  1. 1. Download your playlists, albums and podcasts at home. Downloading music to listen offline is a Premium feature.

  2. 2. Mind the 30 days. The app has to go online at least once every 30 days, or your downloads stop playing. On a longer trip, plan a moment online.

  3. 3. Know the limits: up to 10,000 songs per device, on up to 5 devices.

Fig. 03
Three things to do before you fly.

Streaming on the trip

  • On your phone’s mobile data

    A roaming or travel eSIM that routes data outside mainland China usually gets Spotify through.

  • On hotel Wi-Fi

    It’s a Chinese network, so you need a VPN.

Fig. 04
Streaming on the trip. Simplified.

Where Tunnelz fits

Tunnelz covers the Mac on hotel Wi-Fi: it connects the Spotify app through your own server, not shared with thousands, which is also how a long trip gets its once-a-month moment online. The Smart route sends Chinese sites direct, so they stay fast.

  • The Spotify app

    Connects through your own server, not shared with thousands, which is also how a long trip gets its once-a-month moment online.

  • Chinese sites

    Go direct, so they 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

Is Spotify available in China?
Not in mainland China. Spotify lists Hong Kong among the places it’s available, and its web player is blocked on mainland Chinese networks.
Can I listen to Spotify offline in China?
Yes, with Premium. Download before you fly. Downloads keep playing as long as the app goes online at least once every 30 days.
Does Spotify work on hotel Wi-Fi in China?
Not without a VPN. Hotel Wi-Fi is a Chinese network, so Spotify is blocked on it, even if your phone’s eSIM gets it through on mobile data.
What music apps do people use in China?
Chinese apps such as NetEase Cloud Music and QQ Music. They work on Chinese networks without a VPN.

Sources