I avoid group tours like the plague, and that goes double for China. Unless you're really into gift shops, disgusting restaurants, crappy hotels, descending upon scores of temples with busloads of old ladies, and tons of diversions that result in kick-backs for your guide, you'd best go solo. It helps to know a little Chinese, of course, but even if you're linguisticly hampered, you can accomplish great things using a book as your only guide.