Group 1: Friends.

Group 2: Acquaintances.

Group 3: Strangers.

Group 4: Those I pretend not to know/ refuse to be seen in their company.

The young English teacher, the post-professional working old teacher, the chinese language student, the professional expat, the wife hunter, the foreign tradesman, the kung fu enthusiast and the backpacker.

1) Laowai

The foreign high-schooler:

His parents are highly positioned in a foreign company. He likes to wear expensive and cocky clothes and go to bars at the age of 14, where he will take of his shoes and put his feet on the table, then drunk to the point he has to be carried home (two beers). While making as much noise as possible and puking everywhere.

The expat parents:

The father enjoys the Chinese culture so much he doesn't learn the language, and needs to have an affair with one of his subordinates. He also enjoys massages, expensive bars, KTVs, talking about his job, and Golf.

The mother loves going to clothes markets, where she will be able to purchase fake clothes for the full price, to then brag about that amazing Gucci or whatever she's wearing. She also enjoys massages, crappy western restaurants, and gossiping more than anything else.

The Language student:

New to China, around 24, his dream of coming here finally coming true. After 20 hours of intensive Chinese a week, his favourite hangout is the cafe with uncensored wi-fi where all the hipsters hang out, where he can talk to his friends on twitter and facebook or write a novel about a handsome young stud new in China, while sipping on a latte/mojito. He also sometimes brings out his accoustic guitar, so he can (barely) play "Wonder Wall" from Oasis, fucking up what is already one of the songs I hate most, in a bar or anywhere where there are people. He's been playing for "a few years", but he only knows that riff, and perhaps the beginning of "Stairway to Heaven", but that's enough to show off and get laid, am I right?

He hangs out with Chinese people because he wants to improve his Chinese, unaware that it's actually the other guy who's improving his English, and because he didn't come to China to hang out with white people. And that makes him so damn special and unique and interesting and amazing and I would definitely suck his dick just because of that.

The crazy colleague at the school...who's 50-ish, who asks you to go partying with him every time he sees you but after you refuse, 'he's not your friend anymore'...and doesn't even say hello anymore, just stares at you and walks by

He also tries to date Chinese girls in their 20s, ones that speak no English whatsoever (he doesn't speak any Mandarin). God bless America

You would have to classify them in different areas. ESL teachers, Subject teachers, Short Term company workers and Long Term Company workers. Your post seems to hit the nail on the head for a typical ESL worker who came to China for a change in life

Yes, I think they should be separated by age and reasons for coming here. For instance, although I am still technically a newcomer (I've been here less than a year) I was never optimistic. My honeymoon stage lasted one week, when I came here on vacation. When I came to work, I quickly went in to the "I'm unhappy stage." I didn't hate everything, but there were some things that upset me. Perhaps because I was never super optimistic, I have not degraded into a cynical person. I smile to some people to be polite. I don't shun other expats, but the ones I have met in my city are much older than me and not the type of people I would be friends with back home anyway. However, my plan is to come back for another year, then move on. My reasons were to get to know the culture and learn a bit of the language, and maybe find a boyfriend. I don't know how to describe other expats because I haven't really interacted with any.

I would say that most of the foreigners here are the kind of people I was trying to escape in the States. I hope to get good enough at Chinese to make some real Chinese friends soon.

From my observations, I'd say there are three types of foreigners:

1. New arrivals

2. Complete worthless trash people who drink all the time and carry on in their clueless ignorance, or pretend to have enlightened opinions but really just make snobbish pronouncements and snap judgments.

3. Interesting and cultured people who have a fresh and light perspective

Don't meet many expats but let me tell you about my predecessor.

Mid 40's still single..overweight..never got girls at home..and was an asshole back stabber to boot (I know..fits right in in China eh).

Moved here and screwed a different massage girl every night...after 3 years of whore-mongering found a girl who actually liked him and got married. 

Even though we fired him...he stayed and never went home...and every time I talk to him he spouts his kool-aid dribble about how wonderful China is in every way.