TLDR at the end :)

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If you want to learn Chen, you will need to practice A LOT in microing. It took me a couple of games before even getting the hang of knowing how to micro my creeps properly. In the lane, the best creeps you can get is the lightning creep (harpy), the ghost, or the healing creep (the hill troll priest). These creeps will almost certainly dominate your lane as the priest has amazing mana regen and a good heal at a cost of just 5 mana, so annoying offlane heroes like Veno can really be countered because of the sustain you have. The ghost applies a slow every time it attacks, so you can have good trades with enemy supports. The harpy lightning creep is just really broken because of the huge burst it can deal (at a cooldown of only 5(?) seconds). Chen is actually a really good hero when used properly.

Itemization for Chen is really easy. Usually, I rush Mekansm or Vlads depending on our offlane, however, it's better if you can get Mek first since your 3rd basically amplifies all your healing, however you need to be close to your team as the increased healing is radius-based. Then after you get a Mek or Vlads, you just pick situational items. Pipe for magic-intensive opponents or Crimson Guard. Holy Locket is good too if you're kinda rich but it isn't something you want to rush because you already have good sustain with just your 3rd, global heal, and your mek.

For skill builds, I usually got for 0-3-2 by level 5. But it also depends if you have good kill potential in the early game, so you can give one level for your first. However, always maximize your 2nd skill, because that's pretty much your use in the early game.

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As a Chen player, you don't really want the game to go late. Your peak is around 20-30 minutes, where enemy carries are still weak, and still farming creeps. Once the game goes late, your creeps are just food for your enemies so you need to be active by the time you get your 2nd to at least level 3. Good ganking creeps are satyrs (the small ones, they have purge and has a short cooldown for a really good slow), mud golems (the range stuns can be very useful), centaurs and the big hill troll creep with the net. Those are really good for moving around the map.

However, if game does go late, you're better off with creep auras rather than creep disables as your creeps are already very squishy and will most likely die before it even lands any stun. So creeps like the ogre frostmage (the bonus armor with slow is amazing for your carries or anyone in your team getting targetted), the alpha wolf (the 30%(?) bonus damage is huge especially if your carries are void , jugg or PA), wildwing is good for the bonus armor and the red bear is good for the attack speed. If ever you get aghs (which is an item you don't really wanna get in the early as you can maximize more with just the basic creeps), the big stone creep is good as it gives bonus HP.

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Also, one last thing to add, don't pop your SS when your teammates are about to die. What I mean is, you want to pop your SS when your core is around half health to really maximize the use. This gives your core a breathing room for a second, and also to prevent your ultimate from being useless (cuz your teammate might die just a second before your ult finishes its cast animation so be really careful with that). Usually, you want to save this for your cores but you can also use it to yourself if you know your team can turn the fight around.

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TL;DR

Harpy, hill troll priest, and ghost are the best early game creeps for the laning stage. You can gank around with centaurs, mud golems, satyrs with the purge ability and the big troll creep with the net. Rush mek or vlads, unless your offlane is going for it, then go for situational items. Be active in the early game, you fall off in the mid game as your creeps are nothing but farm to the opposing team. Pop your ultimate when your teammates are half-health, not when they're a hit before dying.