Hey BB,
I hope you will post from Beijing while you are there. I just had a guest from one of the larger cities in China (Hangzhou) and he really enjoyed recreational riding here immensely. It seems they ride quite a lot for transportation in some locales, but he told me that some Chinese cities are not very bicycle friendly at all. I suspect that riding for fitness and recreation is uncommon in most of China, but with the emerging middle class there that may change. I look forward to your reports... I'm almost certain to make a visit myself before too long.