What this step is
After reading this page you’ll know what to prepare, roughly what it costs and how long it all takes. No hands-on work yet.
Three words to know first
You only need these three to begin; you’ll pick up the rest as you go.
- Server (VPS): a computer you rent in a data center abroad, running 24/7. You never see it; you control it remotely.
- Node: the encrypted tunnel from your computer to that server. Websites see the server’s IP, not yours.
- Subscription: a URL. Your app opens it to get the nodes and the rules for “which sites go through the server”, and keeps them updated.
What you need
| Item | Used for | If you don’t have it |
|---|---|---|
| A computer (Windows or Mac) | Configuring the server, installing apps | Required. Windows needs WSL first — see Install WSL on Windows |
| A way to pay on overseas websites | Buying the server | The recommended BandwagonHost accepts Alipay (支付宝); for other providers go by the checkout page — see Paying on overseas websites |
| An email address that receives mail reliably | Provider account, server-ready email | Gmail is recommended — see Create a Google account |
| An AI coding assistant (optional) | Letting AI configure the server | Not required — in step 3 you can type the commands yourself |
| A non-China Apple ID (iPhone only) | Downloading Shadowrocket | It’s not in the China App Store — see Create a non-China Apple ID |
Roughly what it costs
- Server: the only required cost, paid quarterly or yearly; check the provider’s site for prices. 1 vCPU and 1 GB RAM are enough.
- Computer app: Clash Verge Rev, free.
- iPhone app: Shadowrocket, a one-off purchase of about US$3 on the US App Store (check the store page).
- AI tool (optional): Claude Code needs a paid Claude plan; Codex needs a paid ChatGPT plan. Skip the AI route and you skip this cost.
- Certificate, rules, AI API software: all free. No domain needed.
How long it takes
About an hour the first time, mostly buying the server and installing apps. Letting AI configure the server takes around 10 minutes. A second server is much faster.
Two routes — pick one now
- Let AI do it (recommended): you can already use Claude Code or Codex. In step 3 you just paste one message to the AI.
- Type it yourself: no AI tool yet. Step 3 lists every command — copy, paste, Enter.
Both routes give exactly the same result; only who does step 3 differs.
Stuck?
I know nothing about command lines. Can I still do this?
Yes. On the AI route you copy one message and answer a few questions. On the manual route you copy commands, paste them and press Enter, and every step tells you what you should see.
How many people can use one server?
You and your family, on many devices at once. Don’t share it with outsiders: your traffic runs out, what they do is attributed to your server, and the IP may get blocked.
Why not just buy a ready-made “airport” service?
Airports share a pool of servers among many people — cheap and easy. Your own server is used only by you, so strangers can’t ruin its IP, and you get your own AI API too. Both are valid; this guide covers the second.
Before moving on, check
✓ All ticked — on to the next step.