I was in China this year and found it surprising that it's as powerful as it is. Consequently, I also found out how powerful not having the entire internet is. The amount of information/sites I wasn't able to access due to it not being accessible at all; or "accessible" but never fully downloadable (i.e. javascript not able to download fully, other assets blocking actual content from being loaded) was staggering.
Coupled with the official cable TV service, which is amusingly abbreviated CCTV[1], and other state-controlled media, it's an eye-opening thing to see (more blatant) information control in action.