Gmail in China?
#1
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Gmail in China?
I'm leaving for China at the end of next week and usually use Gmail for email when traveling. Is it currently usable from China or am I better getting another web based email address? I know Google and the Chinese Government don't always see eye to eye.
#2
Join Date: Jun 2006
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When we were there in April, Gmail access was spotty at best. In theory, the channels are wide open for Gmail (no government blockage)--it's more Google search that's an issue...but you absolutely will notice that everything online in China takes about 5 - 10x as long to load. Everything you search for/access is being vetted against a filter first before loading (here's where the censorship part comes in) and that can be maddening if you're actually trying to use the web in any sort of normal fashion.
In all our travels in Asia so far, I found internet access in China to be the worst by a longshot.
In all our travels in Asia so far, I found internet access in China to be the worst by a longshot.
#8
Join Date: Mar 2004
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I am currently sitting in the lobby of the Guilin Sheraton and just used gmail without any issues. Same with Beijing and Xian. Granted I am using nice hotel wifi, but no issues yet. Facebook however is blocked.
#9
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JazzDrew.
If you plan to stay a long time in China and want Facebook,get a VPN. I used one in January,2011, and never had a problem accessing those awful banned sites such as Facebook, Twitter, BBC etc.
I used a pay site. Cost $15.00 for a month.
If you plan to stay a long time in China and want Facebook,get a VPN. I used one in January,2011, and never had a problem accessing those awful banned sites such as Facebook, Twitter, BBC etc.
I used a pay site. Cost $15.00 for a month.
#12
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I don't use Facebook very much and can happily live without it. The ability to send emails would be handy and it looks like gmail will enable me to do that. Wife and children just need to know that I'm alive!
#14
Join Date: Apr 2007
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We were in China during April of this year. China is a beautiful country and we plan to go back soon. China is a governmental and Communist controlled country so almost everythings is under a kind of watch by goverment officials. When I was there I found two ways one could send emails out of China by getting in to Google Hong Kong web site or go to your work's email account.