I got a scholarship for my PhD in China a few years back, I opted out of it at the last minute principally because I read a bit about life over there and decided to rather die here being free. China would be the last place I would want to stay. Merely seeing the way they treat their Nigerian employees in their companies here is more than enough lesson.
The journey of life becomes easier and more interesting once you've got someone to tag along with. I hope you new gf is opened to taking the journey with you. I can only wish you the best.
I'd be curious to hear more about that experience. I've compiled a lot of general info about Chinese government and the behaviour of the people etc. It can be abhorrent sometimes. I hear a lot about those in Africa, such as how they bring an army in for the Belt and Road development... but bring their own Chinese workers, giving literally no jobs to the local communities. That leads to debt trap diplomacy yadda yadda...
Unpleasant...
You made an amazing choice by declining. This country is getting further and further apart from the rest of the world, approaching North Korea levels so... probably wise to stay away!