I think JoeBloggs offers some wise suggestions, at least in the beginning, but ultimately, I found these efforts (at least on my part) failed, because as Silverboy and SBG have stated, "Chinese will consider you 'soft'" and easily manipulated.

As far as contracts, my mantra soon became: "If I wouldn't sign/agree to that in my home country, then why should I agree to it in China?" The catch-all comeback "This is China," or stuff about cultural differences is baloney! Bad business is bad business no matter where it takes place.