SO true.......... the west dont realise know much money is here in China...... im not talking about the beggars..... here is big backs.... and they pay big for everything never buy cheap  crap

yeah, i've also never seen foreigners spend 5K on just alcohol for a night of drinking like the chinese do.

For us it's always, "Which places have the cheapest brewz!?" or "Which place gives us free alcohol!?"

I think foreigners talk like this because what you just described is such a small minority. Sure, there are some really rich people in China. Maybe even a lot of rich people. But there's a whole heck of a lot more who aren't. There's a whole herd of women who aren't that attractive, don't come from rich families, or simply have no chance with those big wigs you just mentioned. That's where some of these foreigners get lucky because many of these women will settle for an unattractive, aging foreigner with a passport and a 13k/mo job in a heartbeat. I'm inclined to think there are many more women who fit into this catergory than there are who fit into the rich, well-connected, and/or attractive enough to get a hot shot Chinese guy catergory. 

Of course, that's no excuse for certain foreigners to act like jerks. Many of them who do act like that are at best average back home and wouldn't get a second glance. Be that as it may, there are plenty of women oozing over them here, hoping to get a ticket out of here (and most likely leave them once they make it out). That's enough to blow their heads up.

I'm pretty sure they don't care that there are some Chinese men richer and better connected than they are, after all the women chasing them down don't.... 

I never hear that. Where do you live? Up in BJ I hear foriegners complain about how expensive everything is and how crappy their salaries are. As well, I'd prefer a poor chick. Who wants some little princess demanding crap all the time, get yourself a girl from meager beginings and she'll be more grounded in reality, hence a kick-ass mom and wife. 

My wife grew up in a hut with a dirt floor, managed to go to university and eventually got a gig with a western company. She absolutely refuses to allow me to spend money on her, and is totally chilled out. The only shopping spree we've done was spending some hongbao money from the wedding on some things for the apartment. Went out the other day to buy me shoes, I tried to convince her to get some clothes for herself (As we can afford it) and she said she has plenty of clothes in her closet. It can actually be a bummer, sometimes a guy wants to spend some dough on his woman. 

But yeah, most people I know are pissing and moaning about their wages more than anything. When I first got here I was on 12,000 a month. It was grim, I can't imagine ever bragging about that much. 

I am not a teacher, but in my experience it is the opposite.
I find it's the locals that assume we are rich (at least most of them....mainly women).  I find this annoying, and insulting sometimes.  In fact when pressed by people I actually pretend to make much less than I do, to avoid gold digging opportunists....like women, or even guy friends that expect you to pay all the time.
Local business dudes in China are loaded compared to most expats here, and the ones I know put my meager earnings to shame.
I find it VERY unlikley that someone making 5-10K a month would brag.  They would have to be morons.

Who on earth brags about 5k a month?

And I do realize some of my students are from rich families. One of them, an 11 year old I tutor from time to time, has his own driver, butler, chef living at his home, etc... has the latest iPhone, etc...

A friend of mine tutors a 10 year old who's got 5k monthly allowance from parents, all the latest gadgets, etc... on her birthday another 10 year old from her class sent her 100 white roses.

So yea, I realize.

when people talk about modern china, most of topics here about politics, corrupts, criminals and prejudices, but in the past thirty years china aslo made tremendous treasure and someone who has priviliage get stunning fortune that common people can't even think about it.

a litte story, about four years ago , my friend told me his girlfriend work for a private company, her boss wife drive a car and pick up their boy every day at private school's gate after school. but one day this boy ask his mother don't pick up forever, why? because his classmates family send special driver to pick them up, this boy feel lost face his family hasn't special dirver.

so for some chinese people money just a number, whatever 5k or 10k or XXk·····

Why does it matter to you if your students are rich,does it mean they should be treated differently

Never heard of a foreign teacher bragging about their salary.  Now, some other expats who come here on an expat package that pays for everything they do including their kids schooling, private drivers, penthouse apartments, bodyguards, etc...  Yep, I hear those guys brag a little every now and then.