Blogging in China, any limitations?

bkk tea blog

Serial expat

Member since 20 August 2014

Bangkok

bkk tea blog

22 June 2015 06:27:44

425

bkk tea blog

22 June 2015 06:27:44

425

Bangkok

Two different online contacts recently asked me about setting up blogs in China. I write a blog here in Thailand (about tea), but I wouldn't know much about limitations of writing a blog in China.

The ones posted here in the blog directory use different platforms / host sites, including the two main ones, Blogger and Wordpress, and also others. Are there any limitations there that wouldn't apply elsewhere? Is access to Google products and sites relatively open (Blogger)?

I understand that people can use a VPN to access anything on the internet there but they wouldn't be interested in setting up something questionable, and it would see ill-advised to violate any access restrictions and then post an open publication that shows you did that. Surely there wouldn't be free-speech restrictions related to writing a lifestyle blog, or about tea?

PathsUnwritten

Member

Member since 04 April 2013

Bangkok

PathsUnwritten

24 June 2015 08:26:21

PathsUnwritten

24 June 2015 08:26:21

Bangkok

Would these be blogs that you would write about China from outside the country or within the country? If you're based in Thailand writing about China, you have nothing to worry about.

All Google products (Gmail, YouTube and Blogger) are completely blocked here. So is Wordpress.com. However, a privately-hosted site that uses the wordpress platform is fine.

Aside from the blanket blocking of certain sites, the enforcement seems kind of arbitrary. I've read about sites that were suddenly shut down, but very rarely.