Google Cloud Storage is an object storage service provided by GCP, offering highly durable and scalable storage for unstructured data such as images, videos, backups, and logs. It supports standard protocols (REST, gRPC), versioning, lifecycle management, bucket-level permissions, and fine-grained access control. GCS is used for hosting static websites, storing ML training datasets, and serving large content globally with integration into Google’s edge CDN. It supports multiple classes of storage (Standard, Nearline, Coldline, Archive) optimized for access frequency and cost. Its interoperability with GCP’s AI/ML and analytics tools makes it ideal for data-driven applications.

Google Cloud Storage is partially available in China. The underlying infrastructure and storage buckets hosted under *.storage.googleapis.com and *.googleapis.com are subject to DNS blocking or throttling by Chinese ISPs. While some public resources may occasionally load, reliability is low, and large object downloads frequently fail or timeout. Upload operations, signed URLs, or access token validation are often disrupted, making GCS unsuitable for real-time content delivery or storage access from China. Static website hosting on GCS is practically unusable within China without circumvention tools. Developers targeting Chinese users are strongly encouraged to migrate to domestic object storage services such as Alibaba OSS, Tencent COS, or Huawei OBS, which offer similar API paradigms, SDKs, and ecosystem support. These alternatives also provide ICP-compliant domain binding, accelerated content delivery, and local customer support. Even globally focused apps often use content mirroring strategies when addressing users from China to maintain performance and availability.

The information regarding service availability in China is provided for general reference purposes only. Due to the dynamic nature of network conditions and regulatory environments, the actual accessibility of these services may vary over time and by location. Users are advised to verify the current status independently.