Given a travel related situation, and given a specific question about the situation, summarize the question into a title

I am trying to use Google Maps in China. I know that Google is blocked, which is why I downloaded the map of Beijing offline. However, when I open the app my phone attempts to find GPS satellites but finds none. I know location works because my location works fine when I am on WiFi. Is this a China blocking GPS thing or something else?

I am using a Verizon HTC One (M8) with Android 5.0.1 and HTC Sense.

Note: This question has also been cross-posted to Android.SE.

Update 1:

All my testing for this question was done on the 7th floor of a downtown office building. Yesterday after waiting a while, I was able to recieve GPS signal (using both Google Maps and GPS Status) while on the 17th floor of a suburban apartment building. I was then also able to recieve signal in another part of downtown that lacked many tall buildings. When I get back to the office tomorrow I will be able to judge if it was just taking a mega-long time to get the satellite data as @Vince suggested, or if it is the urban canyon as @Loren suggested. Thank you all for the help and explanations!

Update 2:

After some testing, it seems that this does simply come down to an urban canyon problem. The GPS does not find any satellites at my desk in the office, however, if I bring it next to a window it finds 2 satellites (not enough for a location, but enough to answer this question). When I take the phone outside the building I am able to get location in some areas. Thank you all again for the help and the wealth of new knowledge. 

Note: all testing was done with data and WiFi services turned off.

Based on a comment, I have asked a question in GIS.SE asking about the urban canyon and how it compares to Beijing versus NYC.

Why does my phone's GPS not work in China?