Hey everyone, I'm Wei.
Let me start with the bottom line: ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini are all completely blocked in mainland China.
During my exchange semester in Beijing last year, I was dumbfounded on day one — ChatGPT just showed an endless loading spinner, and Claude was a blank page. As a student who relies entirely on AI for literature reviews and research, it felt like the end of the world.
After a semester of trial and error, I've compiled every method into this guide. Whether you're a student, exchange student, or on a business trip to China, this article has you covered.
ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini — All Blocked in China? Here's the Full Picture
Let's get clear on which AI tools are blocked:
ChatGPT: Never Been Available
ChatGPT has never been accessible in mainland China. On July 9, 2024, OpenAI went further by blocking API access from mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macau. So it's not just regular users — even developers are locked out.
To make things worse, Chinese phone numbers cannot register for ChatGPT accounts, and in late 2025, OpenAI upgraded its risk detection algorithms — Visa/MasterCards issued in mainland China are almost universally blacklisted, making even paid subscriptions extremely difficult.
Claude: Even Stricter Than ChatGPT
Anthropic's Claude is similarly unavailable in mainland China, with even more aggressive enforcement. On September 5, 2025, Anthropic formally announced a ban on all "Chinese-controlled entities" from using Claude services (including both API and web versions).
On November 10, 2025, a massive wave of Claude account bans hit, particularly targeting developers using Claude Code. The main reasons: Chinese IP logins, frequent IP switching, and account sharing. In short, Claude's detection is stricter than ChatGPT's.
- Google Gemini: Completely blocked
- Perplexity: Inaccessible
- Microsoft Copilot: Partially restricted
For students, this means accessing any overseas AI tool in China requires a VPN. Here are the 4 methods I've personally tested.
Method 1: VPN Access to ChatGPT / Claude (Most Universal)
This is the most popular approach and was my primary solution throughout my semester in Beijing.
The concept is simple: use a VPN to switch your IP to a supported region like the US, Japan, or Taiwan. ChatGPT and Claude will then think you're overseas and work normally.
VPN Precautions
But there are several pitfalls to watch out for:
- Stick to the same node: Frequently switching IPs is the easiest way to trigger risk detection by OpenAI and Anthropic — getting your account banned is no joke
- Choose a stable, paid VPN: Free VPNs are slow and disconnect frequently. Each reconnection potentially triggers detection. A VPN is not something you should cheap out on
- Connections are harder during sensitive periods: Political events like the Two Sessions and National Day make VPN connections significantly more difficult — be mentally prepared
- Hotel Wi-Fi + VPN is usually slow: If you're in a dorm or hotel, pairing with mobile data is much more stable
Not sure which VPN to choose? Check out 6 Best VPNs for China — Real-World Tested, which includes actual speed test data from inside China. iPhone users can see iPhone VPN Setup Tutorial for step-by-step instructions.
What Else to Watch Out for After Connecting
Even with VPN connected, there are still issues:
- ChatGPT registration: Chinese phone numbers won't work — you need a phone number from a supported country
- Paid subscriptions: ChatGPT Plus and Claude Pro are both $20 USD/month, but Chinese credit cards are almost all blocked. Workarounds include switching your Apple ID to a US region and using gift cards, or using virtual credit cards
- Multi-location login detection: By 2026, OpenAI can precisely detect multi-location logins — never share accounts with others
This method is better suited for coding students or developers.
API relay services work by forwarding your API requests through an intermediary, allowing you to call ChatGPT or Claude APIs without a VPN. These platforms bypass Stripe's payment restrictions through third-party payment channels.
Who Is This For?
- Developers and engineers who need AI API integration in their code
- Heavy users who need to make many API calls
- People who don't want to fire up a VPN every time they use AI
Risk Warning
Honestly, the API relay market is murky. There's a massive grey market for reselling services, and Claude is the most popular among uncensored models (due to its coding prowess) — the biggest sellers have over 50,000 transactions.
But I need to seriously caution you: the risks are extremely high. Account security and data privacy can't be guaranteed, and both OpenAI and Anthropic explicitly prohibit account sharing. If your work involves confidential data, absolutely do not use this approach.
Method 3: Chinese AI Alternatives (Use These If You Don't Want to Bother with VPNs)
If you're too lazy to deal with VPNs, or just need a quick AI assist, China actually has some pretty decent homegrown alternatives. The best part: none of them require a VPN, they're directly accessible, and they're all free.
Budget-friendly lifesavers for students:
| Model |
Developer |
Top Strength |
Monthly Active Users |
| Doubao |
ByteDance |
Short video / social media copy |
172 million |
| DeepSeek |
DeepSeek |
Code / logical reasoning |
61.81 million |
| Kimi |
Moonshot AI |
Ultra-long context (2M characters) |
26.22 million |
| ERNIE Bot |
Baidu |
Best Chinese language understanding |
— |
| Qwen |
Alibaba |
Enterprise applications |
— |
My Testing Recommendations
- Writing papers, literature reviews: Kimi supports 2-million-character context — feed it an entire PDF and it'll summarize it. Even ChatGPT's free tier can't do that
- Coding, debugging: DeepSeek's reasoner mode shows its full chain of thought, with impressive logical reasoning
- Chinese writing, legal documents: ERNIE Bot has the best understanding of Chinese idioms, classical Chinese, and legal terminology
- Social media posts, video scripts: Doubao leverages ByteDance's super-app ecosystem and excels here
Honestly, if your needs are primarily Chinese-language related, local AI tools often outperform ChatGPT. But if you need the absolute best English capabilities or coding performance, you'll still need to use ChatGPT or Claude via VPN.
Method 4: Pre-Departure Preparation (It's Too Late Once You're in China)
This isn't a standalone solution, but it's critically important. Many people only discover they can't bypass the firewall after arriving in China, by which point they can't even access VPN provider websites to download anything.
Pre-Departure Checklist
- Download VPN apps in advance: Once in China, many VPNs get delisted from the App Store or become unsearchable. Download everything while still at home
- Verify your ChatGPT / Claude accounts work: Log in to confirm your accounts are functioning and set up two-factor authentication
- Prepare backup options: Download the Chinese AI tools mentioned above (DeepSeek, Kimi, etc.) as emergency alternatives when your VPN is unstable
- Note your VPN's backup connection methods: Some VPNs offer manual configuration alternatives — if the app can't connect, you still have a fallback
If you're heading to China for business, there are additional details to consider. Check out China Business Trip VPN Guide.
Student Budget Hacks: Cheapest Way to Access AI in China
Alright, here's the main event. As someone who survived a semester eating cheap noodles in Beijing, I understand the pain of a tight budget.
ChatGPT Plus and Claude Pro are both $20 USD/month (about $640 TWD), which is no joke for students. Add VPN costs on top, and your monthly AI + VPN bill easily exceeds $30+.
My Money-Saving Combo
Everyday simple queries: Use Chinese alternatives like DeepSeek or Kimi — free, no VPN needed, covers 70% of daily needs.
When you need ChatGPT / Claude: I recommend Sunset Browser. It has a built-in VPN feature — just open and connect with one tap. The best part is the free tier: watch a short ad for 30 minutes of access. That's enough to check ChatGPT, ask a question, or run some code. No separate VPN app needed, no complicated setup — just open and go. Absolute lifesaver for students on a budget.
For heavy users who need extended sessions, the paid plans are affordable too — much cheaper than paying for both a VPN and AI subscriptions separately.
Saving on ChatGPT subscriptions: If you don't want to pay $20/month, start with the free version (limited but usable). When you actually need Pro features, subscribe via Apple gift cards — much easier than getting your credit card blocked.
FAQ
How do I use ChatGPT in China?
Use a VPN to connect to a supported region (US, Japan, etc.) and ChatGPT works normally. Choose a stable paid VPN, stick to the same node, and avoid frequent IP switching to prevent account bans. For VPN recommendations, see 6 Best VPNs for China — Real-World Tested.
Can Claude be used in China?
Not directly. Anthropic formally banned Chinese access to Claude in September 2025, with very strict detection. A massive ban wave hit in November 2025. If using via VPN, stick to a fixed IP and never share accounts.
Will using a VPN to access ChatGPT get my account banned?
There's a risk. OpenAI's 2026 detection can precisely identify multi-location logins. Stick to the same region's nodes, avoid frequent IP switching, and don't share accounts — this significantly reduces the risk of bans.
What do I do since ChatGPT is blocked in China?
Four approaches: (1) VPN for direct access; (2) API relay platforms (for developers); (3) Switch to Chinese AI alternatives like DeepSeek or Kimi; (4) Prepare before departure. All detailed above.
How do business travelers use ChatGPT in China?
Download your VPN and ChatGPT apps before leaving, and verify your account works. Once in China, turn on your VPN and continue as normal. For short trips, Sunset Browser's free tier (ad-based 30-minute sessions) is more than enough. More preparation tips at China Business Trip VPN Guide.
Are there free ways to bypass the firewall?
Yes, but be careful. Free VPNs carry high risks — they may steal your data or be too unreliable to use. A safer free option is Sunset Browser's ad-supported mode, which gives you 30 minutes per session without compromising your personal data. To learn about free VPN risks, see Are Free VPNs Safe?.
Last updated: April 9, 2026. Blocking policies and risk detection for AI tools change rapidly. This article is updated regularly. If you find a method that's stopped working, feel free to let me know in the comments.