Yes. YouTube has been blocked in mainland China since March 2009, and it was still blocked as of October 2026. The site and app won't load on Chinese home broadband, mobile networks or hotel Wi-Fi.
How long it's been blocked
YouTube had been switched off briefly before, during the 2008 Tibet unrest and around sensitive anniversaries. In March 2009, Google saw traffic from China collapse, and the Committee to Protect Journalists called on Beijing to explain the block. The government never confirmed it officially, and access never came back. Freedom House's China report lists YouTube among the international platforms blocked in China, along with Google Search, Facebook and WhatsApp.
Hong Kong and Macau aren't covered by the block, so YouTube works normally there.
Watching YouTube while visiting
- Roaming or a travel eSIM: your US carrier's international data, or an eSIM that routes traffic through Hong Kong or another country, sends your connection outside the firewall. esimDB explains that this is why roaming data can reach blocked sites. Video burns through data fast, so stick to lower quality.
- YouTube Premium downloads: save videos offline before you fly. Premium downloads need you to reconnect periodically, so long stays can cause issues.
- Local platforms: Bilibili is the closest Chinese equivalent, with plenty of gaming, tech and travel content. Douyin and Xigua Video cover short and mid-length clips.
About VPNs
A VPN is the usual workaround, but China bans VPN services that the government hasn't approved. Foreign visitors are rarely targeted, yet it isn't legal, and VPN connections there are often slow or cut off. Roaming data is the cleaner option for a short trip.