Nor is this unique to China; the same is true in South Africa where you choose your major before applying to university and then apply specifically to that degree program, which has its own unique requirements, instead of applying to the university in general as you would in the US. And once you have started your degree you cannot (except in rare circumstances) take modules from other courses that aren't a part of your syllabus or jump easily between majors.

To my knowledge this is actually the way higher education in most countries works, with the US being a bit of an exception.