Education, research oppurtunities and cost. They are also heavily emphasizing open research for global good instead of many Western universities that try to patent everything for maximum profit. That appeals to many researchers who just want to make a world a better place.

Also, citizenship is not a thing in US or UK universities either.

Over the past decade the country has increased its spending on research and development by roughly 9% annually in real terms. In 2023, adjusting for purchasing power, China outspent both America and the European Union on combined government and higher-education R&D. The country has also drawn back many Chinese researchers who were once based abroad, a cohort known as haigui (sea turtles), a homophone for “returning from across the sea”.

https://www.economist.com/science-and-technology/2025/06/18/are-chinas-universities-really-the-best-in-the-world

As mentioned above, Chinese Government scholarships are a good idea to apply before choosing a certain university or program. The scholarships can cover all the expenses and free you of those issues in advance.

Otherwise, expect to spend around 200-300$ on accommodation each month, and around 2.000-4.000$ on tuition fees.

https://armacad.info/country/china

What strikes me most about Chinese government's approach to higher education investment is the principle of equality. Rather than concentrating resources solely in a handful of elite universities, funding has been strategically directed toward a broad range of universities, including those in remote and less developed regions. I've learned that over the past decade, about 1.98 million college teachers in western China have been trained on massive open online courses (MOOC). The substantial figure represents Chinese government's resolve to bridge regional disparities and ensure wider access to high-quality educational resources across the country.

https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202511/1348984.shtml

Describe how or it's just copium