Why most file-sharing services fail in China
China’s Great Firewall (GFW) blocks or severely throttles a wide range of overseas internet services. For file transfers specifically, this means:
Even services that are not explicitly blocked often route traffic through US or European data centres. That traffic must cross the GFW inspection layer on entry into China, causing severe packet loss and throttling — making a 20 MB file feel like a dial-up download.
The Great Firewall is not static. Blocks and throttling levels change. Sinosend’s infrastructure is designed to remain effective through these changes by using in-region nodes rather than attempting to cross the GFW from the outside.
How Sinosend solves it
Sinosend operates two edge nodes specifically designed for China delivery:- Hong Kong node — sits outside the GFW but is geographically and topologically close to Mainland China. Traffic from Hong Kong into China uses domestic-grade peering routes rather than international links, avoiding the congestion and inspection bottlenecks at the GFW border.
- Shanghai node — sits entirely inside Mainland China. Files stored here are served as domestic traffic, with no GFW traversal at all. Ideal for recipients in major mainland cities and for use cases that require data stored within the PRC.
Sending TO China
To ensure your transfer reaches recipients in Mainland China:1
Create a new transfer
Click New Transfer from your Sinosend dashboard.
2
Upload your files
Add the files you want to send to your Chinese contact.
3
Open Transfer Settings
Click Settings to open the transfer configuration panel.
4
Select the right data region
Under Data Region, choose one of the following:
- APAC — Hong Kong for general Mainland China access, Hong Kong, or Southeast Asia.
- Mainland China (Shanghai) if your recipient needs files stored entirely within the PRC, or if they are in Shanghai, Beijing, or other major mainland cities.
5
Send the transfer
Enter your recipient’s email (or copy the shareable link) and click Send. Your files are written to the selected edge node immediately.
Sending FROM China
Sinosend works equally well when your Chinese partner or supplier needs to send files to you. They can:- Log in to Sinosend (or use a guest upload link you send them)
- Upload files from their Chinese network connection — uploads go directly to the nearest edge node
- Send the transfer link to you
Choosing between Hong Kong and Shanghai
When in doubt, APAC — Hong Kong is the safest general-purpose choice for China delivery. It is accessible without a VPN from anywhere in Mainland China and provides excellent speeds for most cities.
Typical use cases
Product catalogs and specs
Share high-resolution product photos, technical drawings, and specification sheets with factories and OEM partners in China.
Contracts and agreements
Send legally binding documents — purchase orders, NDAs, supplier agreements — that need to be opened and signed quickly.
Sample approvals
Receive photos, videos, and approval documents from your factory’s QC team without waiting for slow, throttled uploads.
Logistics and customs
Exchange shipping manifests, packing lists, bills of lading, and customs declarations with freight forwarders and logistics partners.
File types and size limits
Sinosend works with any file type. For China transfers, the following formats are particularly common in global trade workflows and are fully supported:- Documents — PDF, Word (.docx), Excel (.xlsx), PowerPoint (.pptx)
- Images — JPEG, PNG, TIFF, PSD, AI (product photos, technical drawings)
- Video — MP4, MOV (factory walkthroughs, sample videos)
- Archives — ZIP, RAR (batch documents and photo sets)
Speed expectations
Actual speeds depend on local ISP conditions, but in testing against WeTransfer and Dropbox from consumer broadband in major Chinese cities, Sinosend consistently delivers files at a multiple of the speed achieved by services routing via US servers.