--- title: Accessing Vercel-hosted sites from mainland China description: Understand why Vercel-hosted sites may be slow or inaccessible in mainland China, and explore steps to improve performance for users in the region url: /kb/guide/accessing-vercel-hosted-sites-from-mainland-china canonical_url: "https://vercel.com/kb/guide/accessing-vercel-hosted-sites-from-mainland-china" published: 2025-11-03 last_updated: 2025-11-10 authors: Anders Morley-Hagström related: - /docs/domains/working-with-domains/add-a-domain - /docs/security/reverse-proxy install_vercel_plugin: npx plugins add vercel/vercel-plugin --- ## Related pages > **For AI agents:** Follow these links to understand how this page connects to the rest of the Vercel ecosystem. For the full cross-link map (inbound, outbound, prerequisites, and semantic neighbors), see the .graph.md link below. - [Global Network & Regions](https://vercel.com/docs/regions?from=related) — View the list of regions supported by Vercel's CDN and learn about our global infrastructure. - [How Vercel CDN works](https://vercel.com/docs/how-vercel-cdn-works?from=related) — Learn how Vercel's CDN processes requests through routing, caching, and compute layers to deliver your content with low - [Overview](https://vercel.com/docs/cdn?from=related) — Vercel's CDN is a globally distributed platform that handles routing, caching, security, and compression for every deplo - [How to troubleshoot stale content returned from the Edge Network when using an external proxy or CDN](https://vercel.com/kb/guide/how-to-troubleshoot-stale-content-returned-from-the-edge-network-when-using-an-external-proxy-or-cdn?from=related) — Learn how to diagnose and fix stale content issues when using external proxies or CDNs with Vercel. Understand troublesh - [How to resolve IP blocking issues ](https://vercel.com/kb/guide/how-to-resolve-ip-blocking-issues?from=related) — Learn to troubleshoot IP blocking issues for both shared and personal networks. - [Troubleshooting connectivity issues to Vercel Deployments](https://vercel.com/kb/guide/troubleshooting-connectivity-issues?from=related) — Learn how to troubleshoot network connectivity issues to your Vercel deployment. - [How do I resolve "ERR_SSL_PROTOCOL_ERROR" with Vercel?](https://vercel.com/kb/guide/resolve-err-ssl-protocol-error-with-vercel?from=related) — Information about how to resolve the "ERR_SSL_PROTOCOL_ERROR" error with Vercel. - [Should I use Cloudflare in front of Vercel?](https://vercel.com/kb/guide/cloudflare-with-vercel?from=related) — Information on using Cloudflare together with Vercel. Full cross-link map for this page: [/kb/guide/accessing-vercel-hosted-sites-from-mainland-china.graph.md](/kb/guide/accessing-vercel-hosted-sites-from-mainland-china.graph.md) Due to the country's internet infrastructure and regulatory environment, Vercel-hosted sites may experience degraded performance or connectivity in mainland China. This guide outlines the causes of these issues and offers practical recommendations for mitigating them. ## Why access is limited - **No mainland China infrastructure:** Vercel does not have servers or CDN nodes in mainland China. Content is served from nearby regions, leading to higher latency. - **The Great Firewall:** China’s network controls may block or throttle traffic to foreign domains, including Vercel's `.vercel.app` subdomains. Even when not blocked, routing through international gateways can result in slower connections. - **Regulatory constraints:** Hosting within China requires an ICP license and adherence to local compliance requirements. Vercel does not offer in-country hosting or regulatory support. ## Recommendations - **Use a custom domain:** Swap the `.vercel.app` domain for your own custom domain. These are less likely to be flagged or blocked. See our documentation on how to add a custom domain: [Adding & Configuring a Custom Domain](https://vercel.com/docs/domains/working-with-domains/add-a-domain) - **Optimize for performance:** Reduce reliance on third-party scripts and services that may be blocked. Self-host fonts, analytics, and other key resources where possible. - **Leverage a mirror or dual deployment**: Vercel [does not recommend placing a proxy in front](https://vercel.com/docs/security/reverse-proxy) of a deployment. However, some customers in mainland China have improved access by deploying a static mirror using infrastructure with more reliable routing into China. Others maintain a dedicated version of their site on local infrastructure within mainland China, which requires an ICP license and compliance with local regulations. ## What to expect Even with optimizations, developers should be aware that Vercel cannot guarantee availability or performance within mainland China. Any site hosted outside of China may face latency, throttling, or inaccessibility due to factors outside Vercel’s control. Implementing the steps above can help mitigate these issues and offer a more reliable experience for users in the region.