I never adopted from China, but I have adopted from Korea, Kazakhstan, and Vietnam. Most of the money I paid went to plane tickets to get the kids home, nominal court fees, fees for US VISAs, passports, and the like. In some cases, it went to my own hotel fare and meals.
It sure beat waiting years for a domestic adoption, with the legal complications, potential reversals, and birth family’s strings attached.
Russia, here. The fees were high — but still, worth it. People spend WAY more for a Suburban, and this is life we’re talking about.