Speed mode or Secure mode: which Hailian routing mode should you use?
The Hailian Locations screen offers Speed mode and Secure mode. These are routing choices: one separates traffic by rules, while the other sends traffic through the service more broadly. Client versions may also call them intelligent routing and global routing.
The difference
- Speed mode: supported China-local services use your ordinary network directly; traffic selected by the rules uses Hailian.
- Secure mode: the client applies global routing instead of the China-local bypass rules.
The distinction is especially relevant to users in mainland China. A direct connection in Speed mode is not carried inside the VPN tunnel.
Speed mode for everyday use
This is the default. Rules allow services such as WeChat, Alipay, Taobao, Douyin and China-local banking or video apps to take the direct route, while selected overseas services use the Hailian route.
That can reduce unnecessary round trips for local services and reduce the traffic handled by the tunnel. It does not guarantee that every domain is classified correctly or that every app will perform the same way.
When to compare Secure mode
Global routing can be useful when an overseas website fails in Speed mode, when an app mixes local and overseas endpoints, or when you want eligible app traffic on a public Wi-Fi network to use the VPN route.
The local network can still observe the connection to the VPN server and its timing. A VPN does not make you invisible to the destination website, replace HTTPS or remove account tracking.
The tradeoffs are a possible increase in latency for China-local services, additional tunnel traffic, and extra checks from banking or payment apps that see an overseas exit address. Return to Speed mode after troubleshooting if it suits your normal use.
Membership and switching
Secure mode is a premium membership feature in the client described by this guide. A trial account may show Premium members only. See membership help for the available options.
Open Locations and choose the mode at the top. The app reapplies the configuration and may reconnect. Wait until a connection or disconnection has finished before switching again.
| Speed mode | Secure mode | |
|---|---|---|
| Supported China-local traffic | Direct route | Global VPN route |
| Selected overseas traffic | VPN route | VPN route |
| What the local network can observe | Direct traffic plus the VPN connection | The VPN connection and any traffic outside its scope |
| Typical tunnel traffic | Lower | Higher |
| Availability in this guide | All users | Premium members |
| Useful starting point | Everyday use | Public Wi-Fi or a routing comparison |
If local apps suddenly behave differently, check whether Secure mode is still active. If a destination works only in that mode, report the affected domain to support so its routing can be investigated. For broader failures, read connection help and slow-speed troubleshooting.