What is the visa process for moving to Germany with my American daughter and Chinese wife?

Hello, I am an American citizen now living in Shanghai, China. Before living in Shanghai I lived in Germany for almost 11 years. I had a permanent residence permit, but did not want to get citizenship. After living in China for several years I lost my permanent residence status because I was unable to spend the required amount of time in Germany. Now, almost 8 years later, I want to move back. I am married to a Chinese woman, and we have a daughter, who is an American citizen. My questions are as follows; - Will it be any easier for me to get my permanent residence again since I had it for so long, or do I have to start from the beginning? - How can I immigrate with my daughter and wife together? - Can my wife just get a tourist visa first and then apply for another visa when we're in Germany? Any information would be much appreciated! Thanks in advance, Antony Wood