I think we can just say that higher education in China, and some would say any education can not be taken seriously. When someone in China calls themselves "professor" I am always very skeptical.

I think you have reason to be sceptical about them. By the same token you should be sceptical of western blokes with doctorates, thick on Chinese ground; they are(in the main) not exactly the true blue Oxford dons. You sound intelligent. If you found yourself back in the west jobless with a couple of idle years ahead of you, you could pluck yourself a perfectly legal doctorate off of the internet. You would of course have to burn the midnight oil and work hard. Your doctorate will be legal. You won't get a job with it in the west but they would always welcome you in China and use your title for promotional reason. This does not apply to all westerners in China with doctorates, but sadly accounts for most of them.