Pat, you are experiencing the typical problem with doing any distance in China. The roads are simply dysfunctional. Massively overloaded trucks smash the roads being a former truck driver I know that many times they are running double any kind of reasonable axle weight, and using piss weak tiny engines (probably they think to save money on fuel = myth) so the roads need to be rebuilt at least once every 5 years or properly maintained every year. With a lazy unaccountable government who'd rather traffic paid for using the freeways the suddenly have road repairs with no thought to road users or any diversion given, this usually in the summer. So we do the math, 20% of the roads will need to be rebuilt every year, but they only do this half the year, therefore about 40% of the roads are under repair. So in theory we can ride road bikes on a tour in China, in reality in the summer you're gonna need a dirt bike, or road/trail bike. Maybe a modded front mudguard and a road/trail tires are what you need!

I think that designer front mudguard needs a hacksaw!