Some people think it hurts your career, but to be honest I think it can only make you a more informed person about yourself. Be careful though you might not be able to go back

I would think it depends on your experience while in China, and how you frame it on your resume when you get back. It can show strength, flexibility, adventure... thinking outside of the box - which employers like.

But if all you do is complain and bitch about the time you spent there, it could hurt you.

Depends, if you're going to continue in teaching ESL or teaching in general I think it's fine, but if your going to work in a completely unrelated field of work, the longer you're away from that line of work the more undesirable you become, before I was a GM in a financial company, company was bought out I took the buy out option and though for giggles and kicks I would go to China for a year, that was 6 years ago... Now if I was to return home and try to jump right back into what i was previously doing it would be pretty hard as I'm out of touch...

If you stay in a field with at least a small relation with your fomer and beginning field of choice you'll be fine

If you work within the realms of whatever career you are hoping to improve, then yes it can help your career. Depending on the future company you want to work for, most of the HR people have never dreamed of working outside of the country, much less experienced it themselves. So if you can find a good job in your field, China can work out to be a very nice stepping stone on your resume.

Now if you are just sick of your office live and hoping to "get away" for a couple of years by teaching.... then no, I might even go as far as to say, it could hurt your career.

it absolutely will hurt my career, after 5 or 6 years of working 20 hours a week living high on the hog with great students and being treated like royalty. i cant teach in america inner city gang bangers crack head parents dumb, unmotivated. i dont know what job i'll do when i get back

Learn fluent Chinese and the world will become your oyster. You can then get a job in any field with any company. Believe me!! Oh, and in any country as well.
While we might be going grey trying to teach Chinese how to speak English they still do business in Chinese and will continue to do so for years to come. Knowledge is power, knowing Chinese is extra power.

Hmmm, I spent my first few years here just learning the language and now heaps of offers comes in from back hom because of it, regardless on whatever my job is right now because they want someone who can speak fluent Mandarin. So yes, being here helps alot.

If you aren't going to learn the language you may as well go home now. Too many people come here to "get into the _____ industry." What they don't realize is that so many industries are bass ackwards here and mean NOTHING on your resume when back home.

You've probably met them. Most are "documentary filmakers" or something, but can't point to their last piece of published work or name any recent commissions. And, as someone who came here with experience in my area back home, they have no idea what they're doing.

All depends on how you swing it. Also depends on what you are trading in by being here. If I was at home right now I would be bagging groceries or lifeguarding like all my other newly graduated friends from uni. For someone right out of school its a big step forward that shows a high level of independence.

Keep in mind your age. The older you are the more it will hurt you and the more that coming here will apear as some kind of act of desperation.