I Stopped Using the Veep Years Ago and I Don't Miss It

How many of us have heard that when moving to China, you must install a VPN on all of your devices in order to survive? Well, I’m here to tell you that it just ain’t true. From texting and stalking celebrities to watching funny cat videos and binging all your favorite TV shows (yes, even the overseas ones), the following apps developed right here in China have got you covered.

If you haven’t heard of this one then you’ve been living under a rock, big time. iQIYI is basically the Chinese Netflix. Televised entertainment from all over the world can be viewed on this platform. Aside from the biggest American movies, iQIYI has reality shows, comedy shows, all the popular K-dramas, J-dramas etc. It supports multiple screens and allows you to watch content anytime. While some shows require an iQIYI membership, most of the movies and TV dramas are free. Even if the show you want to watch requires purchasing a membership, it’s only RMB 20 (USD 3) a month, which is cheaper than Netflix by USD 7.

NetEase Cloud Music is the most popular music app in China, and it’s not hard to see why. Artists from all over the world post their music and albums on NetEase. Like Spotify, you’re able to follow other users and artists. But with NetEase, you’re able to post videos of your own, look at performance videos and music videos from your idols, and favorite, like, and comment on those videos. You’re also able to post a “status” by re-sharing another post, sharing a song track or album, or by posting your own music covers. What better way to enjoy music than by listening, sharing, and creating!

Here in China, there’s the Chinese version of YouTube. Bilibili has billons of funny videos, make-up tutorials, gaming videos, restaurant and store reviews, and celebrity performances. Similar to YouTube, you can make your own account and post videos, comment under others people’s videos, like and share other videos, and track your subscriber count. To register as an official member, you’ll have to take a 100-question quiz and go through Real Name Verification to prove you’re a real human. However, if you think the fuss is too much, you’re still able to surf the site and watch videos without an account.

Weibo is China’s hottest Twitter-like social network. With trending topics, different hashtags, and the ability to follow others, Weibo gives you access to the world and its celebrities. You’re able to post images and videos, comment under other people’s posts, like posts, share posts, and send messages to other users. Like Twitter, there is a “followers” count and a “following” count. In addition to its active users, the site hosts over 400 million business pages, and many celebrities who do not speak Chinese use the site to reach out to their Chinese fanbase. You’re free to stalk celebrities from all over the world and join fan clubs as well.

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