Interesting thought, but why. I have never been to the Chinese interior, only the border, so I have no experience. Just wondering what you think would be better.
I think the first thing to say categorically is that for political considerations I would not live in either country by choice. I imagine most of us feel the same on that score.
However, without boring you with an "essay" my personal feelings whist in both counties is that in China the influence of the state is less obvious to the casual visitor. I can't speak for the feelings of residents and, of course, those living in both countries will have differing individual views that are influenced by their own circumstances and political sympathies.
Russia seems "hard" and China "soft". Not a very "scientific" or even "objective" view I know so please see it as a "feeling" and maybe other forum members will feel exactly the opposite way! Who knows.
Metal detectors at the entrances to shopping arcades with guards holding machine guns watching people enter and leave in Moscow sort of set the scene! Uniformed surveillance is everywhere in the big cities and I had the feeling that ordinary people were constantly aware of their need to comply. If you want to invest in Russia then open a "Uniform Factory"!
Housing and living conditions for many are very poor, particularly in Russia where cramped out of date apartments, dating back to a previous regime, are everywhere in the cities. China seems to have modernised in this respect faster than Russia but again, I can only speak from the little experience I have. It must be acknowledged that contrasts across and within such vast countries are stark. There are new and massive high rise housing in "clumps" dotted around China. I would hate to live in any but with the numbers requiring housing it seems some efforts are being made to cope. Again, this is a personal observation and may not be so obvious in different parts of the country.
Both countries, but especially China, have created transport systems that are light years ahead of the UK. We talk about HS2 but better and more already exists in China. Railway speeds of over 300km/h are the norm. (And that's equally true for Japan and other Far Eastern Countries).
Vast networks of concrete raised tracks literally crisscross and "worm" around the country. If ground level is already occupied then build over seems the answer - equally true for Japan of course.
Whilst in China my own feelings were quite different from those in Russia although I know the role of the state is at least as big an influence on the quality of lives it seems less obvious to the casual observer. In reality both countries are exactly the same in their control but in China, my personal feeling, is that it's less obvious.
Having said that if you think surveillance in the UK is well developed in China every few yards there are cameras mounted above the streets. In both countries you are being watched!
You might feel that there are some benefits such as the almost total lack of graffiti. The response time for action if anything untoward takes place in China, I was told, is minutes. The "artist" will have been taken and the graffiti removed almost immediately.
All very subjective views and not even scratching the surface really.
I suppose my "feeling" is that in the few parts I have visited I would expect a more comfortable quality of life in China but it's just how I feel and I'm not very good at explaining it.