5 Best VPNs To Watch Chinese TV From Anywhere in 2025

Only a few VPNs can securely access popular Chinese TV (like iQiyi, Tencent Video, and Youku) from anywhere. Most VPNs can't provide you with servers in or near China or remain undetected by China's Great Firewall.

After my team and I tested over 45 VPNs, I found the best VPNs for reliably streaming Chinese TV in HD. These VPNs are fast, with servers available in China or nearby to access Chinese content without buffering. They are also compatible with smart TVs and routers and offer strong security features to keep your data secure.

ExpressVPN is my top choice for watching Chinese shows online. It can safely access most Chinese streaming services with fast servers in Hong Kong. Automatic obfuscation concealing your VPN traffic means you also don't have to worry about getting detected and blocked. Thanks to a 30-day money-back guarantee*, you can try ExpressVPN risk-free.

Best VPNs for Chinese TV — Full Analysis (Updated 2025)

1. ExpressVPN — The Fastest VPN for Streaming Chinese TV From Anywhere in HD

Editor’s Choice Editor’s Choice Try Risk-Free for 30 Days
Tested June 2025

Works With:

Netflix Disney+ APV Max

Hulu BBC iPlayer Sky More

Try ExpressVPN >

www.expressvpn.com

ExpressVPN’s Lightway protocol is designed to achieve faster connections and better video quality. In addition, it uses less code, helping it preserve battery life and allowing you to stream for longer without charging your mobile phone. During our tests, speeds were typically over 200Mbps on nearby servers, and we didn’t experience any added buffering. This was consistently fast enough to watch Keep Running in HD on China Prime Video.

The video loaded nearly instantly and never stuttered or stopped

Obfuscation is automatically enabled on all servers to hide VPN use. This feature makes your VPN data look like regular traffic, allowing it to access Chinese platforms like iQiyi from anywhere safely. ExpressVPN also regularly updates its IP addresses, so there's always a working IP on its servers in Hong Kong and Macau for streaming China TV online.

I found ExpressVPN very easy to install and use. It offers apps for almost all devices, including smart TVs and compatible routers. The apps also have an identical interface, so you don’t need to adjust to a new one every time you use ExpressVPN on a different device.

On the downside, it's more expensive than some competitors. However, the cost is offset by savings on regular deals and discounts. It also has a reliable 30-day money-back guarantee with all its purchase options to test its features completely risk-free. If it doesn’t meet your requirements, you can get a full refund — just contact support via 24/7 live chat.

Useful Features

• Advanced Protection. This feature blocks ads, trackers, and malicious websites while you browse Chinese websites. It automatically prevents harmful sites from accessing your data, so you can safely watch your favorite shows.
• Shortcuts. ExpressVPN allows you to add shortcuts to your favorite Chinese platforms on the main app interface. This can make it easy to securely access top Chinese TV platforms like Youku or iQiyi.
• Split tunneling. You can route your Chinese TV streaming apps through the VPN while keeping other apps on your regular connection, like delivery apps. This helps you maintain faster speeds for other activities while securely watching platforms like Tencent Video.
• Parental controls. This feature helps block inappropriate sites and restrict access to certain services, letting you manage what content your children can access while streaming Chinese TV.

2. CyberGhost — Offers a Chinese IP Address for Reliable Access To China TV Channels

Works With:

Netflix Disney+ APV Max

Hulu BBC iPlayer Sky More

Try CyberGhost VPN >

www.cyberghostvpn.com

CyberGhost stands out with its vast server network, including virtual servers in Shenzhen, China, whereas most VPNs we tested only cover Hong Kong. The Chinese IP addresses we used reliably connected without fail during all our tests. These virtual servers are fast, second only to ExpressVPN, for smooth streaming. Plus, the VPN has specialized streaming servers that can safely access popular platforms, like Netflix, from anywhere.

The Hong Kong servers are equally reliable for streaming

With its Smart rules feature, it offers multiple automation options. You can enable it to automatically connect to a server of your choice whenever you open a particular application, which saves a lot of time. Plus, you can set it up to auto-launch on device startup, so you don’t need to remember to turn it on.

It also offers a Block Content feature, which can block annoying banner ads, harmful malware, and trackers. This feature also helps improve website load times by removing the vast majority of pop-ups. You can enable or disable this feature with just one click.

One minor con is that the monthly option is a little expensive and only offers a shorter money-back guarantee. However, its long-term purchases offer an extended refund period of 45 days, allowing you to test all its features for free.

Useful Features

• Optimized servers. In addition to its specialized streaming servers, it also offers specialty gaming and torrenting servers. These make it possible to enjoy competitive games without added lag or to download files with fast speeds and unbreakable security.
• Favorites. You can save preferred servers for quick access by clicking on the star icon next to them. This makes it easier and faster to find the right server when a new episode of your favorite show is just about to begin.
• Exceptions. If you want to use specific web pages without disconnecting from the VPN used for Chinese TV, you can add those sites to the Exceptions list. These websites will bypass the VPN and use your real IP address.

3. Private Internet Access — Adjustable Settings to Prioritize Speed or Security While Streaming Chinese TV

Works With:

Netflix Disney+ APV Max

Hulu BBC iPlayer More

Try Private Internet Access >

www.privateinternetaccess.com

With PIA, you can adjust settings to suit your network best when streaming Chinese TV. For example, you can choose between faster AES 128-bit encryption or a more secure AES 256-bit encryption level with OpenVPN. The lower encryption level still provides strong security, but you can increase it for sensitive activities.

Like CyberGhost, PIA also has virtual servers in Shenzhen to safely access Chinese shows and services from anywhere. It has servers in Taiwan and Vietnam as well. During our tests, PIA’s connection remained stable on its Chinese servers even with multiple devices connected. Plus, we did not experience any connection issues while streaming HD content.

Although the video quality wasn't great, PIA's connection was stable

My only concern was that PIA is headquartered in the US, which is part of the 5/9/14 Eyes information gathering Alliance. However, its no-logs policy has been independently audited, meaning that it does not collect any identifiable information.

All PIA VPN purchases are backed by a 30 day money-back guarantee. During this time, you can test all its features completely risk-free. If you decide against it, you can get a full refund.

Useful Features

• MACE. This ad blocker works by filtering out unwanted content at the DNS level, which can also help improve streaming speeds on platforms like Mango TV. During my tests, I noticed fewer interruptions and faster loading times with MACE enabled.
• Reduce MTU size. This feature adjusts the data packet size to prevent fragmentation, which can reduce buffering on Chinese TV platforms. This may sound complicated, but it’s simply an on/off button you can toggle in PIA’s apps to improve your speeds.
• Connection Automation. This feature is beneficial if you want to be protected on a server optimized for Chinese TV whenever you open streaming apps. It saves time and minimizes manual intervention.

4. NordVPN — An Intuitive Interface Makes It Easy To Safely Access Chinese TV

Works With:

Netflix Disney+ APV Max

Hulu BBC iPlayer Sky More

Try NordVPN >

www.nordvpn.com

NordVPN offers user-friendly features like Quick Connect and server recommendations, making it straightforward to use. You can even change the app's language to Chinese if you prefer. It was also very easy to install during our tests, and it’s compatible with streaming devices like Smart TVs, Amazon Fire TV Stick, and Apple TV.

The VPN has servers in Hong Kong and Taiwan but doesn’t offer any servers in Mainland China (unlike CyberGhost and PIA). However, it's possible to safely access tons of Chinese streaming platforms with NordVPN. We streamed Ode to Joy in HD without any additional interruptions.

The VPN also worked well with other Chinese TV channels

My only issue with NordVPN is that its Windows app takes some time to start. However, after its initial loading, the app worked seamlessly without any problems.

NordVPN comes with multiple long-term and short-term purchase options. It also offers a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can try it free for Chinese TV.

Useful Features

• Meshnet. This feature lets you create and connect devices to access them, even if they’re in China. You can use it to share files like downloaded copyright-free Chinese content or play games with others on this network.
• Obfuscated servers. This feature is crucial when accessing Chinese TV platforms that may have strong VPN detection mechanisms.
• NordLynx. NordVPN has a custom VPN protocol built on WireGuard technology, offering fast and secure connections.

5. Surfshark — Unlimited Connections to Watch Chinese TV On All Your Devices

Works With:

Netflix Disney+ APV Max

Hulu BBC iPlayer Sky More

Try Surfshark >

www.surfshark.com

Surfshark can stream without interruptions on an unlimited number of devices. While most VPNs only offer 5 devices at once, Surfshark has no limits with all of its purchase options. During our tests, we connected all our devices (10+) to servers in Hong Kong simultaneously, and our speeds remained stable and fast.

"Perfect and Casual" streamed without any interruptions

One issue I faced with Surfshark is that some of its servers took more than 20 seconds to connect. However, you can easily change servers to bypass this issue. Once connected, the speeds are excellent (speeds never fell below 120Mbps), making it a great option for streaming Chinese TV content.

Surfshark is significantly cheaper than most other VPNs, especially with its long-term options. All purchases are backed by a trustworthy 30-day money-back guarantee.

Useful Features

• CleanWeb. You can block website ads, trackers, and malware with CleanWeb. It filters out unwanted content at the source, which can also help reduce buffering and loading times.
• Camouflage and NoBorders mode. Camouflage mode obfuscates your VPN data to help bypass any restrictive VPN firewalls. NoBorders displays a list of the best servers whenever it detects any restrictions on your network.

Quick Comparison Table: Chinese TV VPN Features

To help you choose the best VPN for China TV, I ’ve compared the top options based on key features that matter most when streaming online. Check out this table to see which one fits your needs.

Editor's Note: We value our relationship with our readers, and we strive to earn your trust through transparency and integrity. We are in the same ownership group as some of the industry-leading products reviewed on this site: Intego, CyberGhost, ExpressVPN, and Private Internet Access. However, this does not affect our review process, as we adhere to a strict testing methodology.

Our Methodology for Testing VPNs for Watching Chinese TV

We had an important set of performance standards and features we looked for while testing VPNs for Chinese TV. At the top of the list was compatibility with services like iQiyi and Youku. These required servers are in China or nearby regions to get a China IP or one for Hong Kong. It was also crucial that the VPNs provided fast speeds for high-quality streams with minimal load times.

FAQs on VPNs for Chinese TV

How can I watch Chinese TV in the USA or other countries?

Some Chinese TV networks have international versions of their channels accessible online. Subscription services like Sling TV and Rakuten Viki offer Chinese TV shows and movies that can be accessed globally. Additionally, a VPN with servers in or near China can safely access Chinese TV from anywhere and stream platforms like CCTV, iQIYI, or Youku.

How can I get a Chinese IP address?

The easiest way to get a Chinese IP address is to connect to a VPN server in China. Look for VPNs with multiple servers in China for better connectivity and performance.

After connecting, verify your new IP address by using any online IP checker tool.

Is it legal to watch Chinese TV with a VPN?

Using a VPN to watch Chinese TV is generally legal. However, China blocks many VPNs due to strict censorship, and not many can provide servers in or near the country. Additionally, be aware of local laws regarding VPN usage in your country to avoid potential legal issues. Choose a reputable VPN that uses strong encryption and doesn’t log your data to stay safe online.

How do I set up a VPN on my TV to watch Chinese TV channels?

Many premium VPNs offer native apps for smart TVs that you can easily download from your TV’s app store. If that’s not possible, you can either configure the VPN on your router or use a VPN-compatible streaming device like an Amazon Fire Stick. After that, simply connect to a Chinese server and start streaming China shows. Alternatively, you can share the VPN connection from your computer to your TV.

Can I watch Chinese TV channels with a free VPN?

Free VPNs generally can't provide you with a Chinese IP address or sufficient bandwidth for streaming. They also lack strong encryption and rarely offer servers in China or nearby regions. For reliable and secure streaming, a low-cost premium VPN with safe Chinese servers and a money-back guarantee is a better choice. Free services also have slow speeds and may expose you to ads or malware.

However, there are a few free VPNs that are safe to use despite their limitations. While we haven’t found any reputable providers with locations in China and the surrounding regions, these can protect you in a pinch. I recommend you check out this list of the best free VPNs if you want to try an unpaid option.

Get the Best VPN for Chinese TV

Fast VPNs with servers in or near China can securely stream Chinese TV and other content. All the VPNs on this list excel at streaming in HD without compromising your online privacy.

ExpressVPN is the best choice for safely streaming Chinese TV from anywhere. Its servers in Hong Kong deliver fast, stable connections ideal for high-quality playback. Server traffic is also automatically concealed to avoid detection and blocking. Plus, with its 30-day money-back guarantee, there’s no risk in trying ExpressVPN.