1. WeChat and Alipay. It was hard for me to get vendors to accept paper money.
2. Google Translate
3. The plane ride might be hard if you normally use your devices. I was not allowed to watch my devices. I had to only watch pre-approved content from the planes entertainment system.
4. VPN. I even went as far and carried a portable router that supported vpn and tor.
5. I bought a cellphone there and a cheap data package and used this phone for everything including Baidu Maps. Translating. Paying. If doesn’t work here in the US even so I will save for my next trip.
6. If spoken to by the police answer then. Same with customs and border patrol. Don’t be a smart ass.
7. People are open to talking. They know about the great firewall and their countries politics. Don’t say anything negative about President Xi. You may offend the people you are talking with. The locals would much rather ask you questions about the USA.
8. Try to learn some basic Chinese. It will help. I could give you a crash course if you want.
9. Depending upon where you are staying you may get cards slid under your door advertising prostitution. I asked friend about this and they were mixed wether it was a setup or not. I noticed it was a high school age boy that was sliding them under the doors. His after school job I guess.
10. I took my own laptop. I was never searched. Nothing ever taken from me. I used security precautions just in case though.