Internet in China Explained

China's internet landscape is unique and complex. The country has the largest number of internet users in the world, with over 900 million people online.

The Great Firewall of China, a system that blocks access to certain foreign websites and services, is a key aspect of the country's internet regulation. This system is used to censor online content and maintain control over the flow of information.

China's internet infrastructure is also highly developed, with a strong focus on high-speed internet access and e-commerce.

You can stay connected in China with your own wifi equipped smartphone, tablet, or laptop, as internet access is good in most areas, particularly in hotels, cafes, restaurants, and bars.

Most travelers buy a local SIM card, but this is no longer required.

You can purchase a local SIM card at service booths at major airports, supplier shops (China Telecom, China Unicom, China Mobile), and phone stores, which are on just about every street corner.

Internet cafes may not be an option for tourists, as many only accept customers with Chinese ID.

Local SIM cards can be purchased at service booths at major airports, supplier shops, and phone stores.

Internet access is available throughout China, but not all internet is available for tourists.

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For tourists in China, staying connected can be a challenge. Internet cafes are harder to find these days.

A local China SIM card requires registration, which can be a hassle.

Data roaming is expensive, and even with a roaming pass, charges can add up quickly.

As a tourist in China, you'll want to stay connected without breaking the bank. Data roaming can be notoriously expensive, with charges adding up quickly even with a roaming pass from your provider.

For many tourists, a local China SIM card is an option, but it requires registration, which can be a hassle.

Internet cafes are harder to find in China these days, making it essential to have a reliable way to stay online.

An eSIM for mobile internet connection is the go-to choice for most tourists, offering a convenient and hassle-free way to stay connected.

Data roaming is not the most cost-effective option, even with a roaming pass, so it's best to explore other alternatives.

Tourists can't use Google in China like they're used to. The government's strict internet restrictions, known as the "Great Firewall of China", block numerous services, including Google.

The Great Firewall blocks popular websites and apps, including Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, WhatsApp, and even The New York Times.

A VPN (Virtual Private Network) is the solution to bypass these restrictions. It encrypts your connection, allowing you to access blocked websites and apps.

Finding a reliable VPN that works within China's system is crucial, as not all VPNs can get around the Great Firewall effectively.

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The Chinese internet has a fascinating history, and it's amazing to see how it's evolved over the years. In the late 1990s, the internet grew rapidly, with a small user base centered around major universities and research institutions expanding to a wider population of urban, well-off, and young individuals.

By mid-1995, there were already 40,000 internet users in China, a significant increase from just 3,000 earlier that year. This growth led to the establishment of foundational internet companies like NetEase, which provided games, news, communications, and a portal to the internet.

Tencent QQ was released in February 1999, a simple and lightweight chat app that became widely adopted by individuals and businesses. Users were identified by simple numbers that are still used in advertisements today. Alibaba was founded in April 1999, initially a business-to-business e-commerce company that would later develop into a consumer and financial giant.

The early 2000s saw Chinese tech companies laying the foundations for the country's pervasive e-commerce environment. Alibaba was waiting for scale, and the government's relatively light control allowed for innovation to thrive, despite online monitoring and censorship already underway. Baidu was founded in January 2000, becoming China's top search engine and a company with great AI ambitions.

By December 2000, there were 22.5 million internet users in China, a significant increase from just a few years prior. Alibaba launched Taobao in May 2003, bringing everyday online shopping to consumers and connecting small shops to a broader market, outcompeting eBay in the process.

The SARS outbreak in 2003 highlighted the internet's ability to break the government's hold on information, and Alipay was launched in 2004 to facilitate online payments, giving buyers confidence in online platforms.

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China's Digital Landscape is rapidly expanding, with over 650 million Internet users today. That's a staggering number, and it's only growing faster.

China is now the country with the largest number of Internet users in the world. This growth is largely due to targeted strategies from the Chinese government. They've made digitisation a priority in their latest Five-Year-Plan, aiming to boost the online sector.

The government's Broadband China strategy is also driving this growth, with a goal of achieving nationwide broadband connectivity by 2020. This means even more people will be connected to the internet in the years to come.

China's Digital Economy is booming, with over 650 million Internet users today, making it the country with the largest number of users in the world.

This massive growth is largely due to targeted strategies from the Chinese government, which has prioritized digitisation across the economy and the growth of the online sector.

The government's Five-Year-Plan is driving this growth, aiming for nationwide broadband connectivity by 2020 through its Broadband China strategy.

This means that the number of Internet users in China is likely to continue growing rapidly, with 50% of the total Chinese population already online, roughly the same percentage residing in cities.

China's Quality is a mixed bag, to say the least. China's internet speed has seen a significant increase, with an average download speed of 28 megabits per second (Mbps) in 2018, a nearly 50 percent jump from the previous year.

However, there are discrepancies in the data, with different testing services reporting varying results. For example, the March 2019 Global Speedtest Index ranked China 22 out of 178 countries, but a 2018 report by M-Lab placed China 141 out of 200 countries, with a much lower average download speed of 2.4 Mbps.

Some of China's urban areas have faster broadband speeds than others. Jiangsu, for instance, had an average download speed of 30.9 Mbps in 2018, while Shaanxi and Yunnan averaged 26.9 Mbps and 24.9 Mbps, respectively.

Mobile internet speed is also a consideration, especially given the hundreds of millions of Chinese who access the internet via smartphones. China's 4G network, which covers over 1.1 billion subscribers, averaged 28.9 Mbps in a March 2019 test, ranking China 53 out of 139 countries.

Here's a look at the top broadband download speeds in China's provinces and cities in 2018:

The differences in internet speed between China's urban and rural areas are quite pronounced, with some provinces and cities having significantly slower speeds than others.

In China, internet access is heavily restricted in certain regions, particularly in Tibet and Xinjiang.

The Chinese government has implemented a "Great Firewall" to block access to foreign websites and online services.

This restriction affects not only individuals but also businesses, making it difficult for them to operate online.

The Great Firewall blocks around 10,000 websites, including Google, YouTube, and Facebook, and also slows down internet speeds.

Getting online in China can be a challenge, but don't worry, I've got you covered.

You can get internet access in China through various options, including Holafly eSIM, Pocket WiFi, and Free WiFi. These options have their pros and cons, so let's break them down.

Holafly eSIM is a great choice for all travelers, offering unlimited data and a built-in VPN for flexible plans. It's available for as little as $6.90 per day.

If you're traveling with a group or need to connect multiple devices, Pocket WiFi is a good option, offering built-in VPN and the ability to connect multiple devices. It's priced from $12 per day.

For casual browsing, you can use Free WiFi, but be aware that registration is necessary and a VPN is required for security. This option is free, but it's not the most secure way to access the internet.

If you're planning to stay online during your trip, here are your best options:

The Chinese Internet industry has been protected from international competition due to extensive censorship, allowing it to develop unique characteristics. This has led to the emergence of innovative companies, particularly in eCommerce and messaging.

WeChat, a Chinese messaging app, has been an inspiration for Facebook's mobile platform development. The app's success has also driven the growth of eCommerce in China.

The fierce competition in the eCommerce sector has led to faster delivery and more competitive prices. In fact, the industry is maturing at a rapid pace, with innovative firms popping up at an unprecedented rate.

The Chinese government is actively supporting start-ups, with Premier Li Keqiang presenting a plan to support small innovative companies in 2018. This plan aims to make it easier to run a business and promote entrepreneurship in the Internet age.

Mobile technologies and machine learning algorithms have proliferated in China, transforming the streetscape with services like shared bikes and online transactions. Chinese companies like Mobike and Ofo have pioneered the concept of dockless shared bikes, which are now seen around the world.

By 2017, WeChat had introduced mini-programs, which run inside the app and allow users to interact with other services. These mini-programs numbered over 1 million by the next year.

China's Cybersecurity Law went into effect in June 2017, laying the groundwork for one of the world's most comprehensive internet regulatory regimes.