Hmmm, as far as I can tell, VPNs are heavily regulated in China.
I think companies and especially corporations that do business with the outside world can apply for a license to get VPNs in the office. (So they can access google and other kinds of blocked services).
But who can get a legal VPN in China and under what circumstances seems fairly limited.
I've also been to the 5* hotels in Beijing and they have built in VPNs that allow guests (mostly foreign or big business guys) to access unrestricted internet.
As far the common person, there is no way to use a UnionPay or any other form of Chinese digital payment to purchase a working and anonymous VPN like you can in the West.
So it's really not a widely-spread practice.
Obviously Chinese who've traveled abroad and looked into it during their stays abroad probably have come back and use some form of VPN to stay connected with the outside world.
Chinese who've never left China? Is a fat chance they will ever get their hands on such tech
As for integrating a built-in VPN into a Chinese steemit mirror APP
WOW! Seems fucking awesome!
I personally would love that, but I don't think it's a very practical idea!
Would be wavy as fuck though, I give you kuddos for coming up with an awesome idea!
RE: Proposal for how to dramatically increase value of Steem. One Word: China.