Mark,

Some more reasons to join *A:

US Airways received DOT approval to launch a new route between Philadelphia and Beijing. However, they announced to postpone the launch to 2010 in March this year...

Also an advise on domestic travel in China:
Beijing and Dalian is best connected with China Southern and Air China. Air China is full member of Star Alliance (however, don't expect many perks). China Southern is Skyteam member. Just based on that I would rule out OneWorld from your choices.

Maybe useful once you arrived:
Domestic travel rates are regulated in China. Although you will be able to snap up discount tickets for Economy class, First class is always full fare. There is no Business Class for most domestic routes in China (there are some exceptions between the major domestic tier 1 cities like Shanghai and Beijing).
If your company is paying domestic full fare economy for business related domestic travel (most do this to add flexibility in case of changes in schedules) the difference between Economy and First class between Beijing and Dalian is only approx. 300 RMB one way (that's approx 30 EUR/50 USD). If you plan to use Air China (I do) for domestic travel (the new T3 in Beijing has an excellent lounge for domestic business/first class travellers) you can also make it a criteria if your future *A milage program will give 100/125/150/200 or even 300% status milage bonus for F class flights on Air China.

Example:
F class on CA will give me 300% bonus on Lufthansa Miles&More.
F class on FM (Shanghai Airlines) will only give me 200% bonus.

Assuming you don't have any elite status today (and given the fact that China is a huge country) this could make a difference in your milage program decision making process as well.
If played smart you will obtain elite level much quicker...

One more thing:
Also have a look on the Air China Milage Program. I hear it is quite good/competitive and you have good chances to get domestic upgrades. You will be able to get milage for your *A US carrier flights (however, I'm not aware of the details on those routes as I usually fly westwards - on Chinese maps).

Oh! And plan your relocation well!
Although you will be able to get a lot of imported stuff in China these days, they might not have all the things you are used to from the US (especially outside the Tier 1 cities).
If you ship over your things in a sea container (usual method) ensure you take enough of your most loved food, personal things and medicine/drugs!
Ask your foreign colleagues in Dalian what is available and what not. Don't be surprised if they ask you to ship in things for them (great one time chip in the 'guanxi' game).
And obviously you will not find any reasonably priced cloth in your size while in China - unless you are of 'regular Chinese dimensions'.

Let me know (PM?) if you need further ideas on the topic.

Ham