Airports filed as alternates suddenly refusing incoming traffic, along with unpublished NOTAMS and charts being treated as state secrets, are all part of the mainland's charm.
For $#!?$ and giggles, pay attention the phrasing in Chinese ATC when they need you to start flying in circles. Very rarely will you be given a "hold" instruction. The routine command is to "make orbit", as a holding pattern requires an EFC time.
While controllers here have occasionally stepped up and helped me out when needed, how this mess could possibly be found in compliance with ICAO is beyond me.