I'd say not quite as bad, but it's still pretty bad. Especially if you like freedom, you won't have much fun there.
On the other side if you like political games, bootlicking and bribary you will have a very good time, not as a foreigner, but if you're Han Chinese and from a family which is already established in the party it's quite nice.
Once Elon evolves X to the everything app, we will finally enjoy what is what you describe and what is already the case in China.
I was there a month ago and we were driving through some rural area and the bus stopped so people can go to the toilet. There was a seller selling dried fruits in small plastic bags. I wanted to buy some and I had some cash on me, but the only way to pay was to use WeeChat and the QR code he had there.