VPS and data-center routes
A VPS is a virtual computer rented in a data center; the route is the network path from your home to that data center.
Think of it like this
Renting a VPS is like renting a small flat in another city; the route is the highway there — some are wide, some narrow, some jammed at night.
In this setup
A Los Angeles data center is recommended: relatively close to China and supported by AI services. 1 vCPU and 1 GB RAM are enough; choose Ubuntu 24.04 and KVM. The route affects speed from China and stability at peak hours; providers advertise routes such as CN2 GIA or 9929 — pricier routes are usually steadier at night.
Common misconceptions
- "More server bandwidth means faster": from China the bottleneck is usually the cross-ocean route, not the server.
- "Cheap and expensive plans are the same": similar in the daytime, very different at peak hours.
Related: Why it is slower in the evening, BBR, IP address