Other sites don't click with fans of Google

Internet users say they have yet to find a suitable replacement search engine since the government began blocking Google.com last week.

Chinese Web sites, such as Sohu.com or Sina.com, had political limits on search results, and tend not to be as efficient, they say. Other foreign search engine sites, such as alltheweb.com, are less well-known among the nation's 45 million Web users, or have no Chinese-language translation features.

Users fear that other foreign sites may be shut down.

Their best hope is to use an undetectable link to Google, which some say they have already found. 'They are spreading like wildfire,' said Danny Levinson, chief operating officer of Beijing-based Internet portal Xianzai.com.

Google spokeswoman Cindy McCaffrey said yesterday the company was not providing alternative addresses to its users. She said Google was working with Chinese officials.

However, people logging on to Google this week have reported being redirected to Chinese search engines, seemingly chosen at random.

State media said last week the ban on Google was intended to hinder access to gambling, pornography and other sites with 'unhealthy' content.