Out of the kindness of your heart, any amount is appropriate, just remember not to give odd numbers.  In reality, the custom here is to give hongbaos to single teenagers and kids.  For all, amount will depend on age and relationship, like a 5 or 6 years old will get 20 to 40 yuan, and a 15 or 16 years old maybe a couple of hundred if related.

But if you were serious, anywhere between 2K and 6 K will buy a lot of good will for you, and make them think of you as their private ATM.

Gave the psycho MIL 0 RMB. She called the media, and a reporter is coming over tomorrow. Good thing we're not around, eh? My advice, as always, is to give them nothing. But I might be a bit of a dick. See if they let you marry her without a dowry, and then give them some money afterwards.

I think expectations are different for every family and different by region. I have heard about people having to give money, but to me that just sounds weird and would feel weird.

When I went to see my gfs family for the first time, I was in the same boat, and my gf also didnt really know what I should take. I ended up buying a starbucks tea cup thingy for her mom and for here dad, zhonghua cigarettes.

They appreciated the gifts and I had a great time there, as I always do now. This year I know the family better and brought small gifts I got in Europe over christmas for them.

The whole money thing Im not used to and just bleeds of something in this culture that I dont agree with

ask your gf what her parents like,buying each other's a nice gift would be better than Money.

Money is not every parents want,but something very nice and you show them that you care for their daughter ,that's enough.

My husband did not give any money to my parents yet,but I already married him.

It depends on how many people you're going to give money to. If it's just Mom & Dad, 300 RMB to each is enough, or give them 500 all together. If there're kids, maybe a hundred for each kid, but don't spend more then 700 - 800 (RMB) all together, otherwise they will get the wrong message & will milk you every time you go to see them.

Been married 9 years (coming) and I've never given the parents anything, money or gifts, for Chinese New Year, the brother-in-law gets a Hongbao, (but now he's working he won't this year) and children of close friends but no adults. What's more my wife has never even hinted that such a thing is even hoped for.

To me where I live, this just sounds very unusual, perhaps it's different in different areas.

I have agreed to 1000rmb for her recently widowed mother and she has 800rmb to spread around a bunch of kids (hongbao's). And I really don't like it, and it won't happen again.

Yeah, if you're not actually going to visit them this CNY, I'm not sure I would bother.  I agree with Maggie though, discuss with the gf first.  I assume she'll be visiting them, so you could send along a couple of thoughtful gifts with her, from you.  Do they know she is with a foreigner?

800 for poor family, 2000 for middle class ,have a house and car paid,

also check what poor family has , i bought a refrigerator for a gf parents one year for 1100, they used it as a shelf for dishes , but it was the thought that counts right.

I'm in the same boat. First CNY with my GF's family. I have asked a number of Chinese friends about the cash gift and all seem to have a different response. So, together with my GF we decided to by a much needed replacement AC unit (one of the standing one's) for them both. I think she's still planning on giving 800 to each parent plus a shopping trip to her recently graduated brother, who has just landed his first job on a poor 1500 a month salary.

Wow calling your chinese parents pretty poor. ..? You should be ashamed. Most people consider poor in terms of money while others can think of poor in terms of other things such as character etc., If anything if you think they are poor then I guess you should try to change that and make them rich so you and them can feel like a good fit. 

Give them 20% of what you make like a donation we often do at church. If you are gonna be generous at least do the bare minimum which is 20%. If you want to go overboard with your generosity make it double 40% of what you make. So let's say you are making around 800 dollars which you might be or you might not be give them 20% off of that which would equate to approximately 160 dollars. 

Give them 320 dollars from your usual 800 dollars if you want your generosity to go overboard! Depends how much you make first but you can use this formula to decide the right amount to give and if you want to give more or not. 

I know I'm late to the party, but if they're good people (wish my inlaws were), give as much as your heart desires to.

5 months salary times 2

Give her parents how to earn money like help them set up a small business and this is the best way.