Do what @cxfan1960 says. In HK and China, you are legally going as a Chinese citizen, not as a US one.
Originally Posted by
xdriv3
*Can I possibly make this trip w/o having to apply for a Chinese Visa?
Yes. Use only the HKID + HRP when dealing with authorities in Hong Kong and the mainland.
Originally Posted by
xdriv3
*If I can make my entry to Shanghai w/ just HKID and HRP, can I possible use my US passport as well? God forbid I need some help w/ US consulate, I can only access it if I use my US Passport to enter.
Absolutely not. China doesn't recognize dual citizenship for its own nationals, which you would be if using HKID/HRP. You should not show the US passport to anybody while in China--except for the return flight, airline agents that need to see it to check for admissability to the USA. You will not have US consular protections.
Originally Posted by
xdriv3
*Since I leave the US using a US passport, would it be bad if I enter China w/o having them log my entry and then I travel through China and HK and ultimately make my return trip to the US w/o any of these countries stamping my passport? It would appear as if I went no where?
No, there's nothing nefarious about doing this. If the US authorities really cared to track your movements, they can call up your airline passenger record which will show your entire itinerary and that you were in the flight manifest as a HKID/HRP holder also. With everything now electronic, authorities look less at the stamps in your passport. Upon return to the USA, Immigration may or may not ask about your travels--just tell the truth if they do ask. There's no downside here, and the USA permits dual citizenship and knows that duals normally have to use their other country's identification/passport when visiting.....which is essentially what you are doing. Don't worry about this.
Originally Posted by
xdriv3
*I will be traveling w/ my girlfriend who will be using a US Passport and Chinese Visa for entry. If we move through customs/immigrations together, would it cause my issues if anything because of the different docs we are using? We are both Chinese, if it matters. (I know I sound paranoid, but I get pretty anxious when I travel to China).
You will not go through Immigration together, you'll be in separate queues. Likely you'll get through faster. Do not hang out in Immigration (they don't like it), just move on to Bag Claim area and meet your girlfriend there. Customs Exit is just a walkthrough, so you can go through together for that, normally there are no document checks and even if there were, it doesn't matter. No issues here.