Re: Welding while traveling - international dilemma
Suggest you look at buying a machine in China that meets the power you find available where you'll be working. Voltage and Power frequency(50Hz vs 60Hz in the states) are different there.
I know you like working with gas shielded MIG. However, finding a consistently high quality supply of mixed Ar/CO2 shielding gas can be difficult. You can't always run to your local welding supplier and get high quality shielding gas like you can here in the states. 100% CO2 would be much more reliable; but even so I suggest you familiarize your self with running some type of self shielded fluxcore so you have a fall back in case you have gas supply issues.
You can purchase Big name red or blue welding machines in China. There are some models being manufactured there; so the import duties won't kill you. But for your needs I'm willing to bet you can find a good locally made machine that will run on locally available power; for a fraction of the cost. You'll just have to resign yourself to leaving it in China when you're done; because it'll be a boat anchor here in the states. Maybe you can resell it to the next exchange artist?
X2 on finding out about the culture before you go and also get your vaccinations in order. Some like Hepatitis take multiple injections over a period of weeks to develop full strength. Others will make you sick for a couple days right after receiving them. I had a DPT booster before I went to China about 10 years ago, and it hammered me for about 24 hours after I got it.
Stay close to your local guide/interpreter until you get the lay of the land. My recollection is that the big cities were generally safe for Westerners, and you'll be surprised how many non-Chinese are in cities like Shanghai or Bejing. Traveling like the locals, on trains and buses, especially at night, can expose you to some less friendly elements of Chinese society. If you're staying in hotels while sight seeing; stay in those that cater to westerners. You'll appreciate the amenities; like normal toilets and showers, and you'll be safer and less likely to be hassled by petty criminals. Like any tourist, you'll be a target for pickpockets, beggars, and such. And unless you're of Asian decent, there's no hiding the fact that you're a tourist...
Benson's Mobile Welding - Dayton, OH metro area - AWS Certified Welding Inspector