Does Google Fi data still work in China for circumventing the Great Firewall right now or recently?

VPN
1

Hi everyone,

Long time Google Fi user. Been to Europe Canada and China with Google Fi in the past, never a problem. Will be going to China (mainland) for a month soon, *very concerned* about whether I can still use Google Fi data, as well as hotspot for my computer, and browse the “outside” internet/checking my gmail without worrying about the Great Firewall. Googling and checking Gmail is the big concern!

So, have anyone *recently* traveled to mainland China, or better still, is still in mainland China, and can tell me whether using data through Fi, both on the phone and through wifi hotspot, to check gmail and google around and to access “Forbidden” sites (e.g. wikipedia) still works?

While we’re at it, how fast is the browsing on the phone and wifi hotspot in China? I will be using both a pixel 6 pro and an old Pixel 2 XL.

Thank in advance for any report from China, or from recent traveler to China!

2

I was there as recently as this summer, and it works as you described. If you’re roaming on Fi’s data connection, you don’t need a separate VPN because your traffic is already routed outside the Great Firewall. Hotspot works, but I’ve never run a laptop through it so I can’t be sure about the quality of the experience. Speed was always fine in the Tier 1 cities. Good luck!

3

there are groups that mail Fi SIM cards to China so people with “other” opinions than the official line may communicate freely.

(although most are mailed to Hong Kong and then carried across into China)

it’s for a good cause, so some people do donate them.

4

You don’t need to use a VPN, just use Google Fi as the network that you will be connected to is T-Mobile. Roaming in China with the US carrier means that your internet traffic is not blocked by the great firewall. The best thing about Fi is that the roaming data will cost you the same. ($10/ GB). If you are in the downtown of a metropolitan city like Shanghai, you have 4G and 5G. But if you are in a rural area, no guarantee on what type of network you will get.

Also, I would still suggest you use Google One built-in VPN for your Pixel so that your internet traffic is not spied/monitored by the Chinese government. Porn sites are fine but if you write a tweet about how bad the zero covid policy is, local PD will track you down and knock at your door to ask you to delete the tweet. As for now, they won’t arrest you if it’s your first offense.

5

Visited March 2024 and I can confirm Google Fi internet worked well. I visited Shanghai, Ningbo, and YongKang, so I can’t speak for other cities outside these areas, but I assume it should work fine. Speed was usually fast and was a great workaround to getting around the firewall without the need for a VPN.

6

Currently using it now. If you have a Pixel or Samsung Galaxy S22, you can even get 5G in China. Remember to encrypt your traffic (e.g. via a VPN) if you plan to access politically sensitive information in China even though it will load without one.

7

I can confirm that Google Fi data still works as of Aug 2023. I had no issue with Youtube and Google without using any kinds of VPN. I do not use Facebook and Ins so I cannot comment.

The cities I have been in are Beijing, Shanghai, Taiyuan and Yuncheng. Considering it works perfect fine in small cities such as Yuncheng, I would say it should work in most places.

8

I was there in this August and Sep using pixel 6 plus. All FI features were working (data, call, text, etc.) , I didn’t find any differences comparing using it in the US.

9

This is encouraging! Google Fi unlimited plus seems to give 50GB of tethering data overseas then slows it down once exceeded. Does anyone have experience with the slowed down speed, is it still usable once slowed down?

10

I have the same concern of my eSIM as I heard no China providers support eSIM. Were you able to use your eSIM in China?

11

I recently talked with Google customer service. They said Google Fi cellphone as a personal hotspot won’t support roaming on other devices if your phone is iPhone. Android devices, on the other hand, do support roaming across devices but there is a data usage maximum.

12

Wow that’s wonderful to hear! Thank you for confirming this! I will definitely enable Fi on my esim and then probably get a Hong Kong sim as a back up, too!

I’m very happy that the Great Firewall haven’t cut off this route yet! My friends living there said VPN is getting less and less reliable these days.

Thanks again for confirming!

13

That’s a great cause. I fear though once this become widespread enough the government can simple shut down the Fi workaround. After all Fi uses local cellphone network, which the government totally control!

The only sure workaround would be Starlink, but that will only happen when Musk grow a pair and give up his Tesla factory in China, which the government can use to squeeze him.

I hope other satellites internet competitor would quickly mature and provide some service to China!

14

Thanks a lot for that advice! I’ll keep my head down and use VPN as a precaution.

The downside of VPN is that it conflict with my ad blocker. So perhaps I’ll switch to Firefox and enable unblock origin as an extension.

15

Thank you! I was looking for a more recent anecdote, and your reply was what I needed to know!

16

Thank you! Did you have to upgrade to unlimited plan or the normal plan already works?

17

So you purchased the google fi internet/esim and essentially it worked like a regular sim and you could call and have data. did tiktok and instagram work?

18

When was the last time you went? I went in 2018 and don’t need VPN. I could use my Fi data to check Gmail and use Google on my phone. Of course whenever I connect to a local wifi I had to use VPN.

So you could not access Gmail or Google on your Fi’s data in China?

19

Thanks for confirming. I’ll remember to be extra careful about accessing “bad” websites"!

20

Thanks a lot for the update! This is great to know!