Google users has been having a tough time in China since Google officially pulled out of China in 2010. Since then, access to Google search, and other Google services, has been sketchy at best. It now appears as if Gmail is blocked in China.
UPDATE: Read my most current post on the situation in China right now. The information below is still valid when you read the other post as well.
The Great Firewall of China: Gmail Blocked in China
Recently it has been reported that Gmail services are down for the majority of users. This has even hit users who are using third party apps, like Microsoft Outlook, to access their Gmail. This is because Google services are reportedly being blocked at the IP level.
While there has been an upswing shown in Gmail access in China since the block started, on December 29, full services have not yet returned. It is likely that this situation will continue to deteriorate as China claims that Google does not follow Chinese law.
Which laws? Likely the ones which repress the Chinese people, and hamper their ability to have free access to information. When you run a dictatorship, information is the first thing to be repressed.
Gmail blocked in China: How to get around it
The repression of the Chinese people via suppressed Internet access is a long-standing problem. As I said, Google services, like Google Search, have been unavailable in China since at least June of 2014. With Gmail blocked in China now, it appears as if they have closed every door.
This lead us to put together our own Top 5 VPNs in China guide. The problem is that many VPNs are blocked in China, and some choose to not offer their services to the Chinese due to Chinese law. The government knows that VPNs can get their people around ISP blocks, and they continue to thwart their people’s efforts to get free access to information.
The 5
The last time we spoke with our contacts there, these VPNs still worked. Read the reviews to see how well they work, and figure out which one is the right
If you need to access Gmail from within China, any of these five VPNs can help you. If you are Chinese and reading this, I know it’s unlikely as I write in English and this website may very well be blocked, but if you’re reading this please spread the word about using VPNs to get free access to the Internet as it is – uncensored, free, and full of vital information for work, play, and learning.
https://twitter.com/ding_jin/status/549087953151328256