Theoretically, a student's score in the National Higher Education Entrance Examination is the only consideration used for admission into universities in China. The higher the score a student obtains in the National Higher Education Entrance Examination (Gaokao), the higher the likelihood said student will be enrolled in a prestigious university.
Regional education development imbalance leads to the different treatment of students from different regions.
Enrollment rules in China are based on the scores on the Gaokao, but a given university's minimum score threshold varies depending on the province an applicant is from and the degree of competition in applicants from the province. The more you have more top universities in a region, the better chances its students will be enrolled into a top university. The university admission quotes are not based on the area's population but the university's enrollment plan. In some populous provinces, the competition is extremely fierce, while, in some areas with more institutions, such as Beijing or Shanghai, access to a prestigious university is more attainable.