But first I'd expect more fearmongering and a build-up. Maybe they'll send in some CIA patsies, get them caught doing the worst attempt at spying in the world (I suspect they may have done this in Russia) but one that can be charged in the Chinese justice system and one which is plausible enough it may be construed as a real attempt at spying if a relatively low impact one. Fear-monger and saber rattle over it, accuse China of kidnapping and arbitrary detention, blast it all over the news, put it in popular media, make the American people afraid that if they go there they'll be arrested and imprisoned "just for being American", ramp up accusations China will spy on your phone, that just bringing your phone there will allow the evil Chinese cell networks to implant see see pee spyware on your phone.

I do not expect a Travel ban persay like the DPRK, I expect something much closer to Cuba, where you can TECHNICALY go their, but you cannot spend money their, so a travel ban in all but name, so they can still say they do not hold a travel ban

I don't think they have to honestly, they just have to keep pumping sinophobic propaganda. Too many westerners (specifically north americans) already think China is literally 1984, and thus don't want to go anywhere near China, people are easily manipulated.

In the tier-1 cities most people, especially younger, can manage a few words in English (although many are very accented and may be hard to understand) and all public transportation and facilities will have English translation accompanied.

Outside of those, English REALLY isn't a lingua franca here, people will not even be able to guess what you're trying to convey in English. Also, many of the wordless assumptions behind design, procedures, and how things work that many travelers can rely on in countries with more Western influence are also different, which can be challenging.

Massive upsides: everyone is comfortable if you use translation apps or devices to communicate; people are friendly and approachable and pretty social culture-wise, and will go out of their way to help you. It's also extremely safe everywhere, well organized, easy to travel to wherever you care to go, and everything is accessible digitally (although sadly you'd have to be able to read Chinese for most of apps and websites, but it'll be easy for other ppl to help you out by just pulling out their own phones to do xyz).

So yes, you absolutely can go as a tourist without knowing the language ;D

From what I've heard, you can get by in big cities just fine. Maybe @qwename@lemmygrad.ml can give more info? :)

visiting is fine. road signs usually have latin on them for foreigners to not get lost