Introduction
For those who frequently use overseas VPS services, issues like "IP being redirected to China" or "IP being blocked" are common challenges. If you are the owner of an e-commerce website or content provider, these problems can cause significant disruptions and losses. For regular users, such as those browsing foreign streaming services or running personal blogs, IP redirection to China usually has minimal impact, but being blocked by firewalls may require you to change your IP. In this article, I will discuss the causes of IP redirection to China and IP blocks, and how to resolve them.
1. IP Redirection to China
1.1 What is IP Redirection to China?
IP redirection to China typically occurs when Google identifies the location of your IP address as being in China, causing you to be unable to access services or websites that are restricted in China, such as Google Gemini, YouTube Premium, and others. Additionally, some hackers may use these IPs for malicious attacks, causing Google to flag the IP addresses as being “redirected to China.”
1.2 Causes of IP Redirection to China
When you enable GPS location services (such as on a smartphone or computer) and use a VPS to access Google services, Google might link your GPS location with the IP address. This can lead to your IP being flagged as belonging to China.
1.3 How to Detect IP Redirection to China
(1) Check YouTube Premium
Open your browser and go to YouTube Premium. If you see the message "YouTube Premium is not yet available in your country/region," then your IP has been marked as belonging to China.
(2) Use Streaming Detection Script
Run the following command on the server:
bash <(curl -L -s check.unlock.media)If the result shows Premium: No (Region: CN), it indicates that the IP has been marked as belonging to China.
1.4 Solutions for IP Redirection to China
(1) Turn off Location Permissions
For computers:
In Chrome, go to Settings > Privacy and Security > Site Settings > Location and remove access for Google-related sites.For smartphones:
Go to the App Permissions Manager, turn off the location permission for the browser, or disable location services entirely.
(2) Force Location Change
If using Google Chrome on a computer, install the Location Guard extension to forcefully set your GPS location to a different region.
2. IP Blocked by the Great Firewall (GFW)
2.1 What is an IP Blocked by the Great Firewall?
When your VPS is blocked by China's Great Firewall (GFW), it means that your IP has been added to a blacklist due to violating certain rules. This results in most services being inaccessible and is similar to having your IP banned.
2.2 Causes of IP Blocking
(1) Use of Unauthorized Services
The primary cause of IP blocks is using prohibited services, such as VPNs or accessing politically sensitive websites. The Chinese government strictly monitors and regulates these activities, especially the latter. If your IP is blocked for using a VPN, it's just bad luck.(2) Abnormal VPS Resource Usage
Running high-load applications on a low-end VPS, causing CPU usage to stay at full capacity, could lead to your IP being blocked by the hosting provider. Other activities that might trigger a block include excessive bandwidth usage, high disk I/O, DDoS attacks, irregular web scraping behavior, and large-scale port scanning.
2.3 How to Detect an IP Block
(1) Ping Test
Run a simple ping command on the terminal:
ping <IP address>If the ping fails, it's a strong indication that your IP has been blocked by the GFW.
(2) Traceroute Test
Run Traceroute to track the path of data packets to your VPS. If the data packets stop at a certain point, it indicates a typical GFW block.
2.4 Solutions for IP Block
(1) Wait for Automatic Unblocking
In some cases, IP blocks are temporary, especially if they are caused by unusual traffic. These blocks are usually lifted within 1-3 days.(2) Change the IP Address
Contact your VPS provider to request an IP change. However, this often comes at an additional cost. Some providers offer free IP changes.
BandwagonHost offers a paid IP change service, charging approximately $8 per change. The process is simple, and the change is typically completed within minutes. BandwagonHost is known for its high stability and China-friendly access, making it a reliable choice if your IP gets blocked. You can learn more by visiting their official website.
VMRack, a provider offering high-cost-performance VPS services in the US, supports two free IP changes after purchasing a VPS. This is relatively rare among VPS providers. VMRack is known for offering affordable VPS options, but it currently only supports Los Angeles-based cloud servers. You can find more information on their website.
Vultr charges by the hour and does not directly offer an IP change option. However, you can destroy and rebuild your VPS to get a new IP. The advantage of this method is that you only pay for the time you use. It's suitable for users who are not sensitive to data migration. Visit Vultr's website for more details.
3. Conclusion
In general, IP redirection to China does not have a significant impact on VPS users. However, prolonged use of an IP that has been redirected to China may eventually lead to the IP being blocked by the Great Firewall. Whether due to IP redirection or blocking, the methods outlined above can help users resolve these issues and continue using services like Google and YouTube.