1) Airbnb is no longer in China. it was my first choice for finding short term apartments. I usually book one month stays in each city. What are the alternatives? What do locals use? Are there websites / apps that use both English & Chinese?
2) what are people's experience with registering at the local police station? I did it once, accompanied by my house share housemate & it was no problem - there was a special window for foreigners. But without him, I wouldn't even know where to go, what to do.