TL;DR: Most Western AI tools (ChatGPT, Claude, Midjourney) are blocked in China. Chinese alternatives (DeepSeek, Qwen, Tongyi Wanxiang) work natively. For cross-border teams: use VPNs for Western tools or switch to Chinese equivalents. This guide covers what works, what doesn't, and workarounds.
What's Blocked in China (Great Firewall)
- ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini (OpenAI, Anthropic, Google)
- Midjourney (Discord-based, requires VPN)
- GitHub Copilot (works but GitHub itself can be slow)
- Perplexity, most Western AI search tools
What Works Natively in China
- DeepSeek, Qwen, Doubao, Kimi (all Chinese chatbots)
- Tongyi Wanxiang, Whee, Miaohua (Chinese image generators)
- Vidu, SkyReels (Chinese video generators)
- Trae, Tongyi Spirit Code (Chinese AI code editors)
Gray Area (Depends on Network/Region)
- Stable Diffusion (open source, depends on hosting)
- Hugging Face (sometimes accessible, sometimes slow)
- API access (may work if domains not specifically blocked)
Solutions for Cross-Border Teams
Option 1: VPN for Western Tools
Corporate VPNs or trusted personal VPNs (ExpressVPN, etc.) allow access to blocked tools. Legal for business use by foreign entities.
Option 2: Use Chinese Equivalents
Instead of ChatGPT → use DeepSeek or Qwen
Instead of Midjourney → use Tongyi Wanxiang
Instead of Cursor → use Trae
Option 3: Hybrid Approach
International team uses Western tools. China-based team uses Chinese equivalents. Share outputs, not direct tool access.
For Businesses Operating in China
- Assume Western AI tools require VPN
- Budget for Chinese alternatives for local teams
- Test API access independently (may vary)
- Train staff on both ecosystems
