Ctrip is useful for booking rooms, flights and trains. I just booked a flight for tomorrow on it.

Lonely Planet downloads are the way to go. I have the "Southeast Asia" book and the Yunnan chapter of the "China Guide."

Often the information on lodging and eating is out of date but still lots of info.

There are many online resources to research and plan trips. Google, Google, Google.

I like Rough Guides instead of Lp, but Lp forums still have useful info, but as Geezer mentioned, there is tons of info online for China with a Google search. Same as Geezer, I will say HFCAMPO's no reservations advice isn't applicable to all situations or travelers. You'd end up sharing a dirty room in a small run down hotel with a stranger for 300rmb if you tried no reservations during PoShuiJie in Banna. Or you might end up with a real hard time in some non-touristy tier 3 cities in China where only one or two hotels can accept foreigners.

Ctrip sometimes is a problem booking after working hours for a flight the next day morning if you pay with a foreign cc. Their payment verification may not happen in time. But their customer service is pretty good, though it's gotten much harder to get through at times now.

We have found taxi drivers useful for finding accommodation. They often have family, or know someone, who runs a decent place, at a descent price.
The same is true for restaurants. Especially, in tourist hot spots. They will tell you where locals go.

Caveat, emptor. The only place I have not done this is Sanya. There was a scam going there a few years back. Taxi drivers take you to a famous place, and then the bill for a simple fish dish runs to a thousand or more.

If Sanguojia, from Spain, shas been to Morocco (americans may need to know that "Morocco" is a neighboring country to Spain), then Im sure she will find that theres no hassle whatsoever. Btw, Not saying ALL moroccans are thieves, thugs etc, just saying theres alot of them there. Makes vietnam and india seem like a sunday school experience.

Sanya local tourism run by thugs mostly. Definitely the taxi would take you to some seafood place based on kickback rather than experience.