Oh my,

Paige, I lived and worked in China, so tell me what areas you are visiting and I'll be happy to provide you with some information.
Chatty, having lived and worked there, I can honestly tell you most of the people do not hate us. In fact, many are doing everything in their power to get out of China and over here. (For a long time, the immigration wait was about 11 years, unless you came on a student visa. I don't know what it is now.) The "average Joe" in China is just like you and me. They want a decent life, their children cared for, and many are being quietly converted to Christianity. Just like in the U.S. the bad apples and government policy get the press, not the normal citizen. And just like in the U.S. many disagree with the official stance of their government on so-o-o many things. They just can't risk publicly opposing it. That's where the two nations definitely differ, if you oppose the government here, you might get outvoted or harassed a little by the other side, over there, you can be openly killed, or otherwise just mysteriously disappear.
Believe me, I know whereof I speak.