How do I set up a proxy server for China?

You might technically be able to access Netflix streaming over a VPN or proxy, but it is going to be too slow to actually use. Chinese internet connections are not great, especially outside of Beijing and Shanghai. Don't get your hopes up on that one. But on the bright side, China is a bootleg DVD paradise and nobody is going to threaten to sue you if you use BitTorrent. You can't run your own proxy or VPN unless you're planning to maintain a computer and an internet connection outside of China, so you're definitely looking at a commercial service.

Netflix streaming works over Witopia, at least for now, but as zjacreman notes, it takes a certain amount of buffering. Thirding a commercial service as being the best way to go: I use Witopia, but have heard good things about StrongVPN and Freedur as well.

You can't run your own proxy or VPN unless you're planning to maintain a computer and an internet connection outside of China ...or are happy to http://ask.metafilter.com/108753/A-port-to-the-US#1566372 This is very cheap but rather fiddlier to set up than one of the dedicated VPN providers listed above.

Thanks everyone, looks like a VPN service is the way to go. I've got a week or so before moving, so I'll do some research on the various services.

Having arrived in China today, I can confirm that WiTopia works well on my Vista laptop. Installation was a little tricky, but only due to interference from the firewall. A reboot and disabling of these during installation solved the problem. Customer service response from WiTopia to my couple of emails was exemplary. Also purchased Witopia for my wife's Macbook and she happily reports that Netflix streaming is now possible from Canada. Installation was much simpler on the Mac than for Vista. Thanks MeFi for coming through again!