My daughter is living in Beijing for a year so before she left I got her a notebook and set it up with everything she'd need. For a brief moment I considered installing an SSH tunnel or VPN access back here to home, but then I thought about what my ex-wife's voice would sound like when she said, "they are detaining our daughter because they found military grade encryption software on her computer. How did that get there?" and decided against it.
Seriously, if you disagree with their policy don't go. In your own country you have the right to civil disobedience against unjust laws. In another country you are a guest and should act appropriately.
I'm an Aussie, our countries fought together in many wars (some still ongoing) and about as peaceful a partner as the US can get. Despite having travelled to the US about a dozen times and even lived over there for a couple of years, I have refused to return because you want to fingerprint me on entry now.
If you disagree with a requirement of entry. Don't go. It is astonishing that you would premeditate to break China's laws because of your political views when your own country has a bunch that you have not fought against.
Sheesh.
--M