When I was in Guilin couple of years ago, I went into China Unicom office, paid a year rent, i think it was 900rmb, man came next day and drooped a Lan cable through my window. Connection was on the latest fibre optic systems, Lan switches outside all the apartment buildings, I got a rock solid 8mb up and down, np.
No phone line needed (because its lan cable) no other requirements.
Was very simple and no further contact needed with them.
You could also get one of the new mobile phones with 3G as above with the USB stick and just plug your phone into the computer, best of both worlds then, plus benefit of 3G phone.