It IS possible to get by without learning Chinese though, I was there for over a year and didnt learn a word. It was partly through idleness, partly through lack of interest and partly through being busy studying for my degree so it isnt always "just lazy". I never had any probs in fact at mc'd's and places like that was a lot easier just to point at what you want rather than the guys who stuttered away in their atrocious Chinese taking about half an hour and sounding like they had palsy. Having said that its always nice to learn a new language if you have the time/motivation.