Good Chinese stuff?  

China
It's a big place.

Yes
..it is.
Any ideas?

I think that's an excellent...
I think that's an excellent idea ! Instead of all the bad press china is getting for rip offs, why not look at things locally made and/ or designed using traditional materials and/ or techniques ?
I especially like some of the beautiful pottery and porcelain. Itsnicethat (a design blog) recently featured such a modern design take from China: JIA
PS: woody 's right: china is immens. There are different climate zones (from fairly arctic over continental to warm climates), and China is also home to different ethnic/ cultural groups (Han chinese, Mongolian, Tibetan,Uyghur and Hmong to name a few). Different ethnic groups often make different things, so it helps if you narrow it down a bit where you are going ?
http://www.jia-inc.com/_en/home.php

Beijing
Thanks Ite.
Going to Beijing.
That's a cool tea set.

Careful you will find knock...
Careful you will find knock offs of pretty much everything... Otherwise, enjoy your trip sounds like fun!

Knock offs
Yup, that's why I'm hoping there are knowledgable guys on here who can point me in the right direction in terms of both local items as well as genuine incarnations of western designers' wares.

Are there any?
Good question. I can't think of any Chinese design names actually. No doubt you'll find a lot of what is sold in the US under various brand names for a fraction of the price, but as for local designers, I am stumped.

Availability heuristic
Hmm, the fact that we can't think of any Chinese designers straightaway, does not mean that there aren't any, I think. I may also mean that we are not well informed in the West of what is going on designwise in Asia. I can't come up just now with any designers from New Zealand or iceland either, does not mean that they aren't people designing anything there.
The Asian designers/ companies I can come up with: the Azumis, Mina Perhonen, Masahiro Mori, Sori Yanagi, Shiro Kuramata etc. are all Japanese. And the Chinese company JIA that designs things I like (such as the teaset above) seems to be situated in Shangai, instead of Beijing. Bummer.
So I guess that I can't be of much help for the modern designs in China. You'll probably need a local -in - the -know ! The problem is how you can locate one of those: Perhaps someone who is running a design furniture store (new or vintage) in Beijing might know the local designers ? Or a local blogger or someone on flickr ? I fear Europeans might be a bit too far removed to be well informed. I hope someone will answer though, I think it's a really interesting question.
Still, I think that so many tradionally made "folksy" objects and artefacts are worth buying. Hell, even the Eames appreciated the beauty of such items and combined them with their modern furniture. I still regret not purchasing a beautiful wall scroll with of a pomegranate painting (locally) 4 years ago. And did I mention I love the porcelain and the pottery ? And the Hmong embroidery ? (Pretty good chance you will be able to find some sellers in such a large city as Beijing).
Anyway, have a great trip & enjoy hunting for treasures !
I still hope someone can answer this one though.
http://www.j-period.com/en/products/04_/post_178.html

Herman Miller in China
Herman Miller is having the Hang it All entirely manufactured in China and the George George, Nelson® 9-drawer miniature chest is assembled in the US from parts made in China. Please feel free to call the Herman Miller 800 number and their customer service will confirm this if you press hard enough. This is not true of the Vitra marketed Herman Miller products.

Vitra
Has factories in China.
The Hang-It-All that I recently purchased from Herman Miller was made in Taiwan.

Chinese Factories
Thanks for the info. Ok, so if Vitra and HM have stuff made there, I must wonder if the same stuff is being sold there, unbranded, for a fraction of the price.
(...the "licensed" versus "repro" debate begins again...sorry)
HM have a Chinese distrobution operation too, so I also wonder if the prices of their stuff is the same here as in the US/Europe in order to control grey market goods even though all the transportation and import costs are removed. Does anyone have experience with this?

"Ok, so if Vitra and HM have ...
"Ok, so if Vitra and HM have stuff made there, I must wonder if the same stuff is being sold there, unbranded, for a fraction of the price"
Meaning is it possible that the exact same items, made of the same materials in the same facility by the same machines and the same people (and are, therefore the same items) are being sold, without the Vitra/HM markings, or under other brand names,for less money? It seems quite probable to me on a number of levels.

Sure, it's possible
Happens with clothes, etc.

Garlic chicken, hot 'n sour...
Garlic chicken, hot 'n sour soup. From the Great Wall, in Lincoln, Nebraska. Or anything from China Inn, although they sadly changed owners a couple years ago, so maybe they've become one of those dizzy ethical/moral questions, I don't know?
The takeout wasn't as good last time we took out, but that may be due very well to the fact they are always busy.
And I doubt you can go wrong with Yang's Cafe, the noon buffet, where, far as I know, they always meet you at the door with a hello/hi!
Right down the strip mall, north of Best Buy.