1. Yes. You can either get it at the big official shops and have it registered to your own passport or you can just buy one at places on the street and I have no idea who they're connected to.

2. China Mobile probably. If you're leaving the city a lot, definitely China Mobile.

3. Doubt it.

I actually have china Unicom because I can get 3g with my iPhone. there's something weird with iphones and 3g on China Mobile.

Checking the carrier sites directly might get you a coverage map. I don't know of one that compares them.

That's ridiculous. I'd pay that for 10, no problem.

I have a daughter about to turn 3, and we'd love to have a regular meetup with other kids somewhere. Especially if there are other parents there for me to talk to :)

I've been "homeschooling" I suppose, but it's basic stuff because she's so young.

A cloth diaper cover works quite well as a swim diaper. You don't need them to be absorbent. Swim diapers only hold poop, not pee. I actually have some that I could give you, since we brought cloth to use for nighttime and Thora doesn't need them anymore (yeah!). They're pretty beat up, but they should fit.

I remember a few years back the US National Parks website was blocked. THAT was weird. No clue if it still is.