Following is the tips a Chinese workmate gave me, I didn't try yet, wish it can be a help:
Maybe the most important things for you is to calling China. There is some prefix numbers which give you very good offer in calling China. To my experience, the best one is from telediscount (http://www.telediscount.at/tarife.php).
China (Fixed network) Superprice! 0810-277.277 2,2cents/Min
China (Mob...