In China, Telegram is referred to as 'paper airplane' mainly because its Chinese name '电报' sounds similar to '纸飞机' (paper airplane) in Chinese pronunciation. The app's icon also resembles a paper airplane, reinforcing this nickname. Due to restrictions and bans on some foreign social apps in China, Telegram, known for its privacy and security, has a specific user base who access it using VPNs. The 'paper airplane' nickname became popular as a result.