Did you lean Mandarin? I only heard it would be super hard to learn.
The thing about me and Thailand is: I really really like it here and I could see myself staying here for quite sometime but also I want to see more and not settle down.
The laws are not very inviting to build yourself something here anyways.
I hope you write an full blown 5 pages article over your China experience some day :-)
Swing by Thailand before you go back to Europe :-)