For phone cards, your best option is to buy a cheap one of multiple types.  I saw some that offered very low per-minute rates (some even billed in 1/10 minute segments).  Test calls showed that the rates on many of the ones I tested were fake.  The excuse was "taxes aren't included".  I call BS on that for 2 reasons.  First, these taxes varied wildly from card to card for calls between the same 2 cities.  Second, after plowing through a pile of cards, I finally found one which charged just about exactly what it claimed, and was cheaper than the cheapest one after the undocumented taxes were added.

This was well over a decade ago and I don't remember any of the brands.

Skype can work in China.  Another option is a Google Voice number.  Setting one up requires (or required when I set it up) a US phone number that can receive a conformation code.  Once its set up, you don't really need access to that number anymore.

TYPHOOOOOONNNNN!!!!
Actually, it's not so bad in DG.  Just thick clouds, steady rain, and not much wind.

The existing high speed trains are great, but they could be even better - like this:

https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202107/1228998.shtml

The world's first high-speed maglev transportation system running at a speed of 600 kilometers per hour will make its public debut in Qingdao, East China's Shandong Province, on Tuesday.

Now we just have to see where the new maglev lines get installed.

That would be much better than the plane as well because you don't have to land and takeoff.

Maglev from Shanghai to London please

I'm currently selling a piece of property back in the US.

All the initial docs, from the listing to counter-offers and final acceptance of an offer would previously have required physical signatures and initials.  As a side effect of Covid, all of that's done online.  I email back and forth with the realtor.  Once she's sure we agree, she send me a link.  The docs are there, along with "select your font" and buttons to put signatures and initials in all the right places.

I'm in the final phase and thought I'd need to have them mail the contract here for me to sign and send back, or else I could print one here and send it back.  The realtor wasn't sure, but the title company said I can just get on a video call and do a remote notarization.  No sending any actual paper that might get delayed and cause me to miss the closing date.

If nothing goes wrong (goes wrong, goes wrong, goes wrong, . . .) we may even be able to close the deal early.