Remember to use brandy as it will keep you guys warm and cozy to an extent. It will be quite cold in October. It takes around a week to reach Beijing from border.
Visit;
Shen Zehn, its an electronic city.
Gaung Zhou
Xiang Jing
Beijing
Shanghai
etc
Dont take expensive stuff with you. Start taking pictures of stuff that you are going to need on daily basis like food, hotel etc. Always ask for halal food out there. Though avoid Muslim restaurants, the food is literally kind of weird. Instead you may have fish burgers etc. Use traveler cheques. Chinese are very co-operative people.
Good Luck and have a safe journey.