Chowder your statement is falsely misleading. Of course you would need to spend money on living expenses but this is the case anywhere and those living expenses are far cheaper in China than most anywhere in the world. At my airline 90% of our salary is paid in US$ but some pilots who commute are paid 9000 rmb about $1500 per month in actual rmb for living expenses. From this amount they pay for everything ie rent, food, utilities, phone, internet and still save for their beer fund. If you compare living expenses with Dubai or Europe you are 3 to 4 thousand dollars per month ahead in China and all of your remaining pay can easily be wired out anytime barring a Chinese holiday and the banks close. If you look at actual net pay China leads the world in ExPat contracts but the work here is harder and the medicals are difficult and no security here.