"Professor" anywhere in the world denotes a function within the academic hierarchy at university level. It is not a "title". A professor is the highest ranking job position in the academic world with the highest ranking on rhe salaty scale as well. Among professors, there is also a ranking of Assistant, Associate and Full Professor. They are names for academic job positions, no titles like those conferred by the Queen in the case of "Sir", for example.

All well and good, but what about the ragtag fleet of western professors who cast their anchors in Shandong province and work for as little as 5000 yuan? Trouble is that although some professors are qualified in theory; in practice they aren't accepted by western universities, so they have to set a course for the east or to Africa? Thought (hahaha! it's all nautical) I'd stick my oar in before I cruise out at 4 am.