How the Chinese Government Is Helping Google Sell Ads in China

A Google Export Experience Center, known until recently as a Google AdWords Experience Center, in Shanghai in 2016. Photo by AP

Wayne Ma

On the 20th floor of a nondescript office building in China’s southern boomtown of Shenzhen, employees from small businesses such as electronic-component makers can often be seen in a colorful bright office checking out big TV screens displaying Google Search, Gmail and YouTube—which are otherwise blocked in China.

They are in one of more than two dozen Google Export Experience Centers scattered around China. Their purpose: to show Chinese advertisers what the internet looks like beyond the strict censorship of the Great Firewall and get them to promote their businesses with Google.