Finally I have finished a new and even bigger list of (mostly English) blogging platforms that work in China. More than 50 sites, where you can set up a blog (mostly free), were tested if they are blocked by the Great Firewall of China.
Last updated: February, 2017.
Background
Please note, that there is a possibility that any of the sites listed could later become blocked by the great firewall. The Chinese government has full authority to decide if to block or unblock any website they want, whenever they want.
The leading monitoring service of the Chinese firewall, -“GreatFire.org” provides up to date information, as well as historical monitoring data of any possible blocks of these blog services. This will give you an idea of stability and a way to monitor the situation (links to data provided below). Unfortunately such online tools for checking if a website is blocked or not, are censored inside China.
Although free, these blogging platforms have several downsides besides the possibility of being blocked. Internet connections are notoriously slow in China, because bandwidth out of the country is scarce. Most likely these sites do not have a very good connection to the Chinese mainland and just like the blocking, you never know when the speeds can change dramatically at any time. Even up the point that the website no longer finishes loading.
Luckily there is an affordable solution to all this. Finding the right blog host will make sure your site will always work in China, with a fast and stable connection (see below)!
For each blog I have tested if the blogs are being indexed in Baidu. In other words, I have checked if you can find the blogs from the most popular Chinese internet search engine (equivalent of Google). Also some other information is provided, such as if there are ads, other inserted text links on the page etc.
The List (40 blogs & counting):
Bluehost WordPress Hosting *recommended
With my years of experience in battling with different hosting options for China, I have been extremely happy with this one. And they have a cheap (at $5/month) blog hosting plan that I would recommend to those who want a stable & secure solution. These are the main points why I have chosen Bluehost:
+ No ads, just beautiful & clear blogging
+ Experienced host for China
+ Fast & stable connection to the Chinese mainland
+ Easy to use & setup WordPress blogging platform
+ Unlimited possibilities for expansion to a fully featured website
+ Amazing 24h support!
+ Optional upgrade to private IP with increased reliability
What happens if your site gets blocked?
This host is specialised in serving customers who blog for readers located in the Chinese mainland. If you ever have any problems their amazing support staff are always ready to help you out. Also, if ever your site gets blocked in China, they will unblock it for you!
The great firewall of China blocks sites by IP address. With Bluehost you have an option to have your site on a shared or private IP address. For most sites, a shared IP address is fine. If another website on the same IP gets blocked in China, it will be moved to a new IP address.
For those, who want more stability you have the option of using a private IP which is not shared with other users. If your site still gets blocked, it’s because the Chinese government is targeting specifically your website. Even if this would happen, support staff will do their best to solve the problem.
To open up a “WordPress hosting” account at a discounted price, click here and if you are not satisfied, you can get your money back in thirty days.
If you don’t mind the lag & advertising. These free options below are working in China at the moment. Click on “check current status” to see historical data of any possible blockage that may have occurred.
WordPress Blogs:
Edublogs (check current status)
Edublogs has blocked Google and other search engines from indexing the free blogs. Not recommended.
– Header toolbar & footer links
+ No ads
+ Indexed by Baidu
Altervista (check current status)
– Header toolbar, footer link
+ Italian site, also in English
+ Ads but you can make money from them
+ Indexed by Baidu
Rediff Blogs (check current status)
– Not indexed by Baidu
– Toolbar and footer links
+ WordPress
+ No ads
blogdive.com (check current status)
No longer works.
– Reported downtime
– Partly indexed by Baidu
+ Several subdomains to choose from
+ No ads
Microblogging:
Soup (check current status)
– Not indexed by Baidu
+ Innovative microblogging
Tumblr (check current status)
No longer stable in China. Partly blocked.
– Has been blocked in the past
+ No ads
+ Indexed by Baidu
VKontakte (check current status)
– Russian social network
– Requires phone verification
+ No ads
+ Available in English and other languages
+ Indexed by Baidu
Other Blogs:
Roon (check current status)
Roon has ended it’s blogging service.
+ Very easy to use blogging platform
+ No ads
+ Indexed by Baidu
tBlog.com (check current status)
Their service has been unavailable for a long time.
– Sidebar link
+ No ads
+ Indexed by Baidu
BookLikes (check current status)
– Footer link
+ For blogging about books and book reviews
+ No ads
+ Indexed by Baidu
OverBlog (check current status)
No longer stable in China. Partly blocked.
– Ads
+ Clean and easy to use interface
+ Indexed by Baidu
Postach.io (check current status)
Postach.io turned from free to rediculously expensive. If you want an inexpensive option to host WordPress blog without worries of being blocked, see this option here.
+ Blogging interface at evernote.com
+ Small footer link
+ Indexed by Baidu
China Daily (check current status)
– More of a community than just your own blog
– Does not support freedom of speech (blogs are censored)
+ Most likely will never be blocked
+ Indexed by Baidu
Passle (check current status)
+ No ads
+ Clear, innovative platform
+ Only one link on your page to their main site
+ Indexed by Baidu
– Not a traditional style blogging platform
blog.ca (check current status)
Blogging platform was closed on December 2015.
– Used to be blocked in 2013
– Toolbar and footer links
+ No ads
+ Indexed by Baidu
blog.co.uk (check current status)
Blogging platform was closed on December 2015.
– Ads
– Toolbar and footer links
– Was blocked in 2013
+ Indexed by Baidu
Blog.com (check current status)
Constant server outages, slow or just doesn’t work. Not recommended.
– Header toolbar
– Footer links
+ No ads
+ Indexed by Baidu
Jux (check current status)
The Jux project has been discontinued.
– Not properly indexed by Baidu
+ No ads
+ Innovated blogging platform that you either love or hate
Jimdo (check current status)
– Indexing by all search engines is blocked by default until “approved”
– Footer links
+ No ads
EklaBlog (check current status)
– Site in French
– Header toolbar
+ Indexed in Baidu
blog.com.es (check current status)
Blogging platform was closed on December 2015.
– Site in Spanish
– Ads
– Toolbar & footer links
– Not properly indexed by Baidu
Inube (check current status)
– Nofollow links by default
– Asks CAPTCHA every time a blog page is opened
+ Indexed by Baidu
ixpat.com (check current status)
– Most horrible and old blogging platform ever
– Blog is mounted within the whole site interface
– More of an expat classifieds than a blog
+ Hosted in Hong Kong
+ Indexed by Baidu
Website Builders (Blogging Feature):
Doomby (check current status)
They have started asking to fill out a CAPTCHA that is blocked in China, for some people who simply enter your website. No longer reliable.
– Banner ads
– Footer link
+ Indexed by Baidu
Webs (check current status)
– Footer link
+ No ads
+ Indexed by Baidu
Doodlekit (check current status)
– Accounts need to be verified with a credit card (free)
– Account will be deleted if not logged in for 60 days
– Footer link
+ No ads
+ Indexed by Baidu
Yola (check current status)
– Free version limited number of pages
+ Sites hosted on yolasite.com domain
+ Small footer link
+ Indexed in Baidu
Weebly (check current status)
While weebly.com itself is not blocked, the website connects to so many different domains and servers around the world, that even blocking advertising, analytics and social media the user experience is horrible.
– Footer toolbar
+ Indexed in Baidu
Webnode (check current status)
– Has been blocked before
– Footer link
+ Indexed in Baidu
WIX.com (check current status)
– Header & footer links
+ Indexed by Baidu
Beep.com (check current status)
– Footer & sidebar links
+ Indexed by Baidu
Website Builders (No Blogging):
Own-Free-Website.com (check current status)
– Banner ads
– Not indexed in Baidu
+ Sites hosted on page.tl domain
IM Creator (check current status)
IM Creator is now possibly blocked in China.
– Sites hosted on domain www.i-m.co
– Footer toolbar
+ Indexed by Baidu
Moonfruit (check current status)
– Header & footer links
+ Indexed by Baidu
350pages Website Builder (check current status)
No longer works.
– Ads
– Header & footer links
– Old website builder platform
+ Indexed by Baidu
Site W (check current status)
– Pretty old website builder platform
+ French site also available in English & German
+ Indexed by Baidu
Free Hosts:
000webhost (check current status)
– Ads
– Outdated blogging software
+ Easy blog setup
+ Hosted on comxa.com domain
+ Indexed by Baidu
Biz.nf (check current status)
– Free host with some usage limits
– Need to know how to install WordPress on server (fairly easy)
+ No Ads
+ Indexed by Baidu
5GB Free (check current status)
– Need to know how to set up your own blog
– Not a very reliable host
+ No ads or links
+ Indexed by Baidu
Blocked During Test:
http://blog.fc2.com, http://wordpress.com, https://www.blogger.com/, https://ghost.org, http://www.postagon.com, http://plus.google.com, http://facebook.com/notes
As you can see, the Chinese government is not blocking all foreign blogs. But it’s not their only way of censoring free speech. For example certain sensitive keywords might trigger temporary blocks on specific blogs.
If you found this list useful or have more sites to contribute, please leave a comment in the box below. I will continue to make changes to the list as needed — (latest update in 2017).