Im back from my trip. I did manage to get to the quilt and calico shop in the tanglin mall in SIngapore (it is on the 3rd floor in the back). For those who are going I took the subway and got off at Orchard Road subway stop and walk from there - it was about a 10 minute walk.
it was worth the adventure to find it. A with any true quilt shop, it had all the int'l brands we all know and love, (Kaufman, Hoffman, Moda, etc) but also had some unique to Asia as well. It was expensive (ie $19 a yard converted in US dollars).
I didn't have the opportunity to find any shops in Beijing.