Updated on: April 12, 2024
Only 3 Steps (Quick + Easy) to Watch Chinese TV Online With a VPN in 2024:
- Step 1: Download and install a VPN. I recommend ExpressVPN for its blazing-fast speeds and strong security.
- Step 2: Connect to a VPN server. If Chinese TV isn’t normally available in your location, it’s theoretically possible to watch it with a VPN. But this may constitute copyright infringement and may violate the streaming site’s Terms of Service.
- Step 3: Log into your preferred streaming platform & start watching. That’s it! You’re now able to watch your favorite Chinese TV channels securely.
Access to Chinese TV programming varies globally due to licensing agreements. Most of this content is available worldwide, some of it’s available only in mainland China, and some you can only watch in select regions — for example, Sling TV, which provides numerous Chinese TV channels, is a US-only streaming service.
A VPN masks your location by hiding your IP address. When you connect to a VPN server, it gives you an IP address that matches the location of that server. Hypothetically, this could let you stream Chinese TV shows in locations where they’re not normally available. However, please keep in mind that this may go against the streaming platform’s Terms of Service and could even constitute copyright infringement (which neither I nor anyone else at SafetyDetectives condones).
The VPNs I recommend are the best for securely watching Chinese TV online. ExpressVPN is my favorite of the bunch due to its blazing-fast speeds, high-end security features, and ease of use.
SafetyDetectives doesn’t condone copyright infringement. So while the VPNs we recommend below have strict no-logs policies (meaning they don’t see or log what you do online), we urge you to follow all applicable rules and regulations when using a VPN.
How to Watch Chinese TV Content on Any Device
PC or Mac
- Choose a good VPN for streaming Chinese TV. I recommend ExpressVPN — Its lightning-fast speeds make it the best choice for buffer-free streaming.
- Download and install the VPN. Simply follow the on-screen instructions in the installation wizard.
- Connect to a nearby VPN server. That’s it! Go to your preferred streaming platform and start watching your favorite Chinese TV channels.
Smartphone or Tablet
- Get a VPN that has good mobile apps. ExpressVPN has intuitive and feature-rich apps for Android devices, iPhones, and iPads, and is great for streaming.
- Download and install the VPN. This should only take a couple minutes — just follow the installation wizard’s instructions.
- Connect to a nearby VPN server. Then open your preferred streaming app and start watching Chinese TV.
Smart TV
- Pick a VPN that has good streaming support. ExpressVPN is my favorite because it’s quick and easy to set up on smart TVs, Android TVs, and routers.
- For Android TVs. Get the VPN app from the app store, launch the app, and then connect to a local VPN server.
- For non-Android TVs. Download and set up the VPN on your router (ExpressVPN has a dedicated router app and provides easy-to-follow instructions). Now all of the devices connected to your router, including your smart TVs, will use the VPN connection.
- Sign in to your preferred streaming service & start watching. Your smart TV connections are now protected by a VPN, so you can stream Chinese TV more securely on the big screen.
Amazon Fire Stick
- Subscribe to a VPN that works with Chinese TV streaming platforms. ExpressVPN works with all major streaming platforms and provides super-fast speeds for streaming.
- Download and install the VPN app on your Fire Stick or Fire TV. The whole process should only take 1–2 minutes.
- Open the VPN app and connect to a nearby server. You can now watch Chinese TV on your Amazon Fire Stick or Fire TV.
Gaming Console
- Get a good VPN for streaming Chinese TV that has router support. I recommend ExpressVPN because it’s one of the easiest VPNs to set up on routers and provides excellent speeds for streaming.
- Set the VPN up on your router. Once you do so, all of the devices in your home that are connected to the router, including your gaming consoles, will be connected to the VPN.
- Launch your preferred streaming app. You can now watch Chinese TV on your Xbox or PlayStation console.
Best VPNs for Watching Chinese TV Online in 2024
Quick summary of the best VPNs for watching Chinese TV in 2024:
- 🥇1. ExpressVPN — Best VPN for watching Chinese TV online (lightning-fast speeds & strong security).
- 🥈2. Private Internet Access — Great VPN for watching Chinese TV online in the US (has servers in every single state).
- 🥉3. CyberGhost VPN — Beginner-friendly VPN for watching Chinese TV online (simple & easy-to-use apps).
🥇1. ExpressVPN — Best Overall VPN for Watching Chinese TV Online in 2024
ExpressVPN is my top VPN for watching Chinese TV online. It has a large server network in 105 countries, including locations where Chinese TV is available — such as in Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macau.
I ran tests on various Chinese TV streaming sites in my location (I’m based in Taiwan), including iQiyi, Tencent Video, and Le.com, while connected to a server in Taiwan, and it worked 100% of the time. Our international testing team, including my colleague in Hong Kong, also had no issues watching Chinese TV in their locations.
ExpressVPN has user-friendly apps for all major OS, including Android, iOS, Windows, macOS, Linux, and Apple TV, so you can watch Chinese TV on any device. It also has a smart DNS feature, allowing you to stream Chinese TV on devices that don’t support VPNs.
ExpressVPN’s plans start at $6.67 / month and provide the best value out of all the VPNs on this list. Plus, all of ExpressVPN’s plans come with a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can try it out risk-free.
Read our full ExpressVPN review
🥈2. Private Internet Access — Great VPN for Watching Chinese TV in the US
Private Internet Access (PIA) is an excellent VPN for watching Chinese TV in the US because it has servers in every single state, ensuring that you’ll always be able to connect to a nearby server for the fastest possible speeds. This is particularly great for users who watch Chinese TV through platforms like Sling TV — my US colleague tested it and confirmed it worked.
PIA has servers in 91 countries and works with a variety of other Chinese TV streaming platforms as well, including iQiyi, Youku, and MangoTV, as confirmed by our international team of testers.
PIA’s apps are very intuitive — connecting to a server is very straightforward. I like how it shows the latency (how long it takes for a signal to travel from your device to the server) next to every server in the server selection menu and uses a simple color-coded system to help you identify the fastest server in an instant. Additionally, like ExpressVPN, it includes a smart DNS tool, so you can easily stream Chinese TV on the big screen.
Private Internet Access is a very affordable VPN, starting at just $2.03 / month. All of its plans are also backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Read our full Private Internet Access review
🥉3. CyberGhost VPN — Beginner-Friendly VPN for Watching Chinese TV Online
CyberGhost VPN is a great choice for VPN beginners looking to stream Chinese TV online. Its apps are very easy to navigate and offer convenient features, like Smart Rules which let you set up automation — for example, you can set it up to automatically open your preferred Chinese TV streaming app after you connect to a server. Plus, I really like that it has a smart DNS tool for watching Chinese TV on devices that don’t natively support VPN apps.
This provider also has servers in 100 countries. Our international team tested it in their locations with Chinese TV streaming sites, such as iQiyi, Bilibili, and MangoTV and encountered no issues. CyberGhost also has dedicated streaming servers for Sling TV, which are optimized for fast streaming speeds.
CyberGhost VPN’s plans start at a low cost of $2.19 / month. Its monthly plan comes with a 14-day money-back guarantee, and its long-term plans come with a lengthy 45-day money-back guarantee.
Read our full CyberGhost VPN review
Comparison of the Best VPNs for Watching Chinese TV Online in 2024
How to Choose the Best VPN for Watching Chinese TV Online in 2024
- Pick a VPN that works reliably with Chinese TV streaming services. Not every VPN will support your preferred streaming service, so make sure you check for compatibility before purchasing.
- Look for a VPN with fast speeds. Using any VPN will reduce your connection speeds slightly due to the encryption process. But the VPNs on my list all maintain very fast speeds, so you can watch Chinese TV without any interruptions.
- Evaluate its privacy and security features. You want a VPN that has industry-standard security features, like bank-grade 256-bit AES encryption to make your data indecipherable, a strict no-logs policy, meaning it doesn’t keep any logs of your online activities, and a kill switch, which prevents accidental data leaks by cutting your internet connection if your VPN connection drops.
- Choose a VPN with user-friendly apps. I only recommend VPNs that are easy to set up and use. You can get any of the providers on my list up and running in less than 5 minutes, so you can start streaming Chinese TV right away.
- Find a VPN that provides good value for your money. I picked VPNs with reasonably-priced plans, that support a minimum of 5 simultaneous connections (so you can stream Chinese TV on multiple devices at once), and come with bonus features, like split-tunneling. Additionally, the VPNs on my list all come with a money-back guarantee.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the best VPN for watching Chinese TV online?
ExpressVPN is my favorite VPN for watching Chinese TV online. It has servers in 105 countries, including locations like Taiwan and Hong Kong. Plus, it works with all major streaming platforms, including ones that carry Chinese TV channels, such as iQiyi, Tencent Video, Le.com, Youku, and Mango TV, as confirmed by our international testing team. It has the fastest speeds on the market for smooth, buffer-free streaming, its apps are very easy to use, and it provides excellent privacy and security features.
How can I watch Chinese TV through a VPN?
You can watch Chinese TV with a VPN by following this simple 3-step guide. First, download and install a VPN that works with streaming platforms that carry Chinese TV channels. Then connect to an appropriate VPN server. Finally, sign in to your preferred streaming platform and start watching.
Can I watch Chinese TV from outside of China?
Yes, numerous international streaming platforms carry Chinese TV channels. For example, Sling TV is a great option for US viewers, and iQiyi is available in Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, Malaysia, Singapore, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Philippines, Vietnam, and Indonesia. If you want to watch these channels safely and privately, I recommend using one of the VPNs on this list.
Can I use a free VPN for streaming Chinese TV?
Yes, but I don’t really recommend it. Most free VPNs don’t support streaming, don’t work with streaming platforms that carry Chinese TV channels, and/or don’t have servers in countries where Chinese TV is available. And the ones that do usually come with severe limitations. For example, free VPNs frequently limit how much data you can use daily or monthly, have very slow speeds (which leads to constant buffering), and offer weak privacy and security features.
You’ll save yourself a lot of trouble by getting an affordable paid VPN instead.
