Gears, I did a ton of research yesterday. Freegate does get some mixed reviews but this biggest one is that you can't uninstall it without a system restore. If you and rkk go frequently, that's one thing, but this is most likely my only trip there, and I'd want it gone after.

PureVPN is getting fabulous reviews but you have to scan and email either a copy of your passport and/or credit card, which I wouldn't do.

I'm looking at ExpressVPN and IAPS now. Will be anxious to hear what you get working.

Never done any system restore. I guess since this is my own computer and I don't care if there are traces that I had used Freegate. I simply just toss the program file in trash and empty trash when I've finished with a trip, and then downloaded new version before the next one to China.

AmyB,

This is what I am using now in Beijing :

http://www.stealthcube.com/

Access to Facebook and Twitter is OK.

Excellent, that's cheap enough too! Thanks!

AmyB
I just subscribed for a month. The Paypal site wants you to sign up for a year, but, you can change that in Paypal. I have been in correspondence with the owner of the firm as well. He is interested in my results in China. He, too, is an Aussie.
Its working well for me. You may have to play around a little with some of the connections.. I dont want to say which ones are the best here, just in case ..you understand. Anyway, it is working for me, and for $8.00, its not expensive.

AmyB..

Its still working OK for me..Datong now, and off to Xi'an by train this afternoon,

Excellent, I'm downloading tomorrow and leaving Thurs. Thank you so much for the info!

Just installed it and it seems easy. I'll let you know how it works out. Thanks again!

Amy B..

Use Atlanta for best results.I am using it now,and uploading photos from Terracotta Warriors to Facebook . I was there today.. Impressive.
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?...c3060ff&type=1

I will be there Monday! Thank you for the pics, they are awesome! Thanks for the tip on Atlanta, good to know!

AmyB

Check out the Muslim Market when you are in Xi'an.... Its very interesting .
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?...90747f6&type=1..

I just got in from the Muslim market tonight, it was fascinating. We also had a 16 course dumpling dinner that was fun. StealthCube worked fine except for Facebook in Beijing, and now here in Xi'an everything is working. Great tip, thank you again!

AmyB... Sometimes , try two connections at same time. Any US443 and Atlanta as well.

I am in Shanghai now, and just using ANY US 443

I leave China for Thailand tonight, so, no need for VPN... Only a faster line as I will be on Wireless Internet for next two weeks at hotels in Thailand and Siem Reap.

Glad all is working out for you....

I'm home now, but just some general comments. I never got it to work for Facebook in Beijing, but I figured out that sometimes Facebook needs its own browser window, not just a tab, for it to connect, and sometimes I had to access it via an old link in my browser history. It wasn't just playing with the VPN, but the browser too. FWIW, I also found the connection improved (faster speed) with this VPN in Chengdu, Ya'an and Shanghai.

AmyB

Strange..It worked for me, as you can see.

I am in Siem Reap, Cambodia now. No need for a VPN here. Just a need for a faster connection. No uploading of photos as it would take too long... All the best...PG

Somebody above asked about Skype. No need for VPN to use Skype.

FYI: On my recent trip to China last month, I was able to access Facebook only in Shanghai, but not in Xi'an, Chengdu, or Beijing. I didn't try using any special connection or VPN, though, just whatever provider/service was available from the hotels where I stayed. I had no trouble accessing my various emails (from different providers such as AOL, Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail, Excite), airline websites, travel forums, and so on - my non-connection issues were limited to Facebook and YouTube.