Practitioner Guides

Cursor in Hong Kong: Why It's the Go-To AI Coding IDE

Hong Kong AI Podcast/2026-03-07/Updated 2026-03-08/6 min read/CursorIDEDeveloper ToolsHong Kong

Cursor is an increasingly popular AI coding IDE — and it works in Hong Kong without a VPN. It, supports multiple AI models out of the box, and provides the AI-assisted coding experience that tools like ChatGPT and Claude can't deliver directly in this region.

Why Cursor Works in HK

Cursor is a VS Code fork built around AI-assisted development. It has inline editing, tab completion, a chat panel, and the ability to reference your entire codebase in conversations.

The key insight: Cursor is an IDE, not an AI service. It connects to model providers on your behalf. While ChatGPT and Claude block Hong Kong directly, Cursor's built-in model access handles the routing for you.

Getting Started: Auto Mode

The simplest way to use Cursor in HK is with Auto mode — Cursor's default model selector. Auto picks the best available model for each task and switches automatically if a provider has issues. For developers who just want AI-assisted coding without thinking about model selection, Auto is the right starting point.

Cursor Pro ($20/month) gives you a set number of "fast" requests per month. Auto mode manages which model handles each request, balancing quality and availability.

What Cursor Does Well

Codebase awareness. You can @-reference files, folders, or your entire project in chat. Ask "how does authentication work in this project" and it reads the relevant code.

Inline edits. Highlight code, hit Cmd+K, describe the change in natural language. It rewrites the selection. This is faster than chat-based coding for small changes.

Multi-file edits. Describe a refactor and Cursor proposes changes across multiple files. Review them in a diff view, apply what you want.

Terminal integration. Run commands, see errors, ask Cursor to fix them. The loop is tight.

What to Watch Out For

Token costs. Cursor Pro gives you a set number of "fast" requests. Heavy users burn through these quickly. Some developers prefer Sonnet for quality but watch their token usage carefully.

Auto mode opacity. Auto doesn't always tell you which model it selected. If you care about consistency, you can manually select a specific model instead.

Context limits. Even with large context windows, Cursor can lose track of complex multi-file changes. Break big refactors into smaller steps.

Claude access may be restricted. Cursor's Claude model access has been reported as blocked in Hong Kong/China regions. You may see "This model provider doesn't serve your region" for Claude models. (Source: Cursor Forum)

Advanced: Adding Custom Models

Power users can add additional model providers manually. In Settings > Models, you can configure any OpenAI-compatible API endpoint — including providers like Qwen via Alibaba Cloud's DashScope. This requires an API key and some configuration, so it's better suited for technical users.

Alternatives

[Trae IDE](https://www.trae.ai/) — ByteDance's free alternative that reportedly provides unrestricted Claude access from HK.

[OpenCode CLI](https://opencode.ai/) — Open-source terminal-based coding assistant. Works with any OpenAI-compatible API. As of March 2026, offers MiniMax M2.5 for free.

Sources

Using Cursor with a setup we didn't cover? Reach out at contact@hongkongaipodcast.com or subscribe to the Hong Kong AI Podcast.

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