I'm really trying my best not to say Lonely Planet, but I really don't know any others! Sorry! 

If you know which cities you are going to, Eyewitness Travel does a great range. I got ones for Beijing, HK and Shanghai before coming here. They were indispensable! Highly recommended!

For one on China in general, I would say Rough Guide.

I tend to log on to WIki Travel for such guides, although they're not that detailed.

Lonely Planet.  Agree with darkstar above.  But the info is not terribly in-depth and like all travel guides, it outdates quickly.

And for interest's sake, I heard about 5 years ago that one couldn't buy Lonely Planet China in China.  Can anyone corroborate that information?

my Eyewitness book was well thumbed - especially for off-the-beaten-track places

Lonely Planet a good second best

personal experience only - eveyone will prefer different things !

I like Rough Guides myself, but have only quickly read through the one for China. Lonely Planet has a different style that I find to be more like "let us hold your hand while we go to places that have already been ruined by tourists sent by the Lonely Planet".  The Rough Guides are just that, a rough guide.