Selfhosted

As another user posted, how strict the firewall is depends on where you are (and if there are any special events). I heard that Wireguard doesn't work because of deep packet inspeciton, but I was able to use Tailscale to my home network without problems when I was there last year. I also set up a xray vless-reality proxy on a VPS and Outline servers on Google cloud and those worked too.

But the easiest method is to buy an HK eSIM for roaming (I used 3HK). I bought a month of LetsVPN but they booted me from the service for some random reason, so I changed to Mullvad which also worked too.

If you will be using roaming for mobile data in China, you won't face any blocking.

Accessing over cloudflare tunnels or just a normal exposed server works.

VPNs work most of the time. But you can be cut off after like 30 minutes to an hour. I'd recommend only turning it on when you need it.

I've been to China very recently.

You will most likely face speed issues, although this may be due to the physical infrastructure itself connecting China to the outside internet isn't really that stellar. As everything Chinese citizens typically use is hosted in China.

From what I've read if you use a VPN it's pretty simple to get past the great firewall of china. It's also only technically illegal, and not really punished.

People posting here don't realize that CN gov IDs and allows certain traffic to get rerouted through a certain VLAN so they can do DPI and record every packet through a beefy expensive tap device to analyze the telemetry later, and potentially build a case against you. If they so choose. And they likely have the capability to trivially decrypt TLS.

Don't bring in any tech, don't access your personal net back home, don't expect any level of actual privacy or good intentions. Just do your business and keep your digital digital persona minimal while there.

What you’re asking is illegal where you’re going

Best of luck to you