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What's banned in China?

Out of 46 things One Map has mapped, here is where China stands.

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Banned in China

• YouTubeBlocked

  Blocked since March 2009. Still failing tests in September 2026.

• DiscordBlocked

  Blocked since 2018 — behind the Great Firewall ever since.

• X (Twitter)Blocked

  X, then Twitter, blocked in June 2009 — behind the Great Firewall.

• TelegramBlocked

  Blocked since 2015 — behind the Great Firewall ever since.

• InstagramBlocked

  Blocked in September 2014 as Hong Kong protest photos spread.

• SnapchatBlocked

  Behind the Great Firewall. September 2026 tests still get cut off.

• SignalBlocked

  Blocked since March 2021. 99% of September 2026 tests fail.

• TikTokBlocked

  Blocked by the Great Firewall — China gets ByteDance's Douyin instead.

• HomeschoolingBanned

  The law requires 9 years of school; teaching at home isn't allowed.

• Phones in SchoolsBanned

  Phones need a parent's written request, and never enter class.

• SurrogacyBanned

  Banned since 2001. One 2025 bust ended in $25 million in fines.

• Potassium BromateBanned

  Banned as a flour treatment agent since 1 July 2005.

• Paid VacationMandatory

  5 paid days after 1 year of work, up to 15. Law since 2008.

• CryptoBanned

  Banned in 2021. In February 2026 it added stablecoins to the ban.

Restricted in China

• Plastic BagsRestricted

  Ultra-thin bags banned since 2008; others must be paid for.

• GamblingRestricted

  Casinos and betting are banned. Only two state lotteries are legal.

• Social Media for KidsRestricted

  No account ban, but a state 'minor mode' sets time limits and curfews.

• PufferfishRestricted

  Wild pufferfish banned. Only farmed fugu from registered farms.

• Poppy SeedsRestricted

  Raw poppy seeds that can still grow are illegal to buy or carry.

• Military ServicePartly

  Registration is compulsory; the ranks are filled by volunteers.

Allowed in China

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