this post was submitted on 06 Feb 2026
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Hi all,

American traveling to China for IETF, and making my tech prep plans (bringing a laptop, phone, tablet, kindle, and steam deck). I won't bias with my current plans too much, but I do already run Linux+LUKS and GrapheneOS.

For those with experience, what tech prep would you do?

Thanks!

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[–] PonyOfWar@pawb.social 13 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (2 children)

A VPN is essential to access most of the Western/English-speaking internet (in Mainland China, less so in Hong Kong). The VPN might also be blocked though, so research ahead of time to find one that currently works in China.

[–] Fmstrat@lemmy.world 5 points 2 days ago (1 children)

I currently have a PIA account, Wireguard server running in the homelab, and can spin up OpenVPN in Linode, so I should be good here (I hope!). IETF hotel and venue also have "unfiltered internet", as that is a requirement of them agreeing to host there.

@neidu3@sh.itjust.works

[–] neidu3@sh.itjust.works 9 points 2 days ago (1 children)

You should be good. China doesn't block ALL VPNs. Just typical consumer VPNs commonly used for climbing the great firewall of China.

Their blocks are aimed towards low hanging fruits. Blocking it all would be detrimental to industry.

Source: I run multiple VPNs between China and other countries as part of my job

[–] Fmstrat@lemmy.world 1 points 2 days ago
[–] neidu3@sh.itjust.works 2 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (1 children)

For cases like this, having a server somewhere else and know-how of OpenVPN or wireguard comes in really handy.

Source: I may have been in Saudi Arabia, browsing sites containing media with women with exposed hair.

[–] Dyf_Tfh@piefed.zip 2 points 2 days ago (2 children)

Yeah It won't work, you are going to get your VPN IP banned in 15min-a day depending on where you are in China.

Wireguard may have worked a few years ago, but nowadays you have to use a VPN that specifically tries to hide itself

Source: me

[–] Fmstrat@lemmy.world 1 points 2 days ago (1 children)

What is your reference point? Are you in China now and/or Shenzhen specifically? I've received conflicting info on this, so I may set up SSH tunnels and/or VPN over https as backups.

[–] Dyf_Tfh@piefed.zip 1 points 2 days ago

Wasn't in Shenzhen which I would believe should be less restrictive. It also didn't help that I was living in a normal appartement and not an hotel. I self hosted wire guard at home (EU) and not on a VPS.

So definitely not the best case, but I was genuinely surprised that it didn't work while it worked before.

[–] neidu3@sh.itjust.works 1 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago)

Haven't had that problem myself. Sure, being in the IPv4 space of CNPC helps, but I've had no issues connecting to my home server VPN from a some residential IPs either.