I also agree that Discover card is your best bet for wide acceptance and skip the SPG.

Though I would say get the Merc Benz Plat card, the 50k points on top of $400 in airline credit more than makes up for the $475 annual fee. Transferring 120k MR points to Aeroplan will get you round trip business class on Air China and the fuel surcharges should be less than ANA

In addition, I would consider getting Chase Sapphire Preferred for the places that do take it. I've mainly used it in higher end hotels since they seem to understand immediately when I ask to be charged in CNY.