I usually tell them that I love teaching so much, it gives me so much joy and fulfillment that no amount of money can match that, so I refuse a salary and do it for free.

...or if Im not in a jovial mood. I just ask "and how much does your father earn every year?"

They usually get the hint. Now if its someone I dont know (shop keeper, taxi driver, prying waiters), I suddenly act like I dont understand anything they say and just say "ting bu dong", and they usually press because they already know I can understand a little bit, but I stick with it and they go away.

I just usually say that we work for the same company, therefore our salary's are the same

They usually don't believe me, but i know very little Chinese, and they know very little English, and so the question is very easily forgotten.

tell them u've ran out if red envelpes....come back next year

I just smile and say "Mimi" (secret). Unless we are friends, then I dont mind telling them if they tell me too.

Just answer him............That will shock him to the bone to know how much i make per month...........HAHA

Double it, add another 1,000RMB, then tell him/her that it's not enough to live on.

First I explain them my work experience and my qualification ..then i let them know about my salary..the very reason..not to make them dissatisfied with our orgnization..

My experience in the past was that..there are some colleagues who have started their career just 3 years back but after knowing my salary they says that Chinese company paying them very low in comparison to me..

Then i always use to ask..

what qualification do you have..they use to reply--Bachelor--my answer I have Master..

Then i use to ask..what major you have..They use to reply..English Major..My reply--My major is I.T. in Bachelor as well as Master degree..

Also i explain them that I am doing the same thing last 7 years..it is the reason I am getting more salary than you..

So now..first I explain all these things and then tell them my salary..so they dont get dissatisfied with their employer..

  I punch him in the mouth and run off with his bicycle.

refer your colleague to HR where he/she can get the right answer.

Answer a totally different question, it is a common method of avoiding 'difficult' answers.

Ask them how much they make. They usually won't say. If they don't say then you don't have to tell them.

i usually tell them that english salaries are all the same and they can check the english websites for the job posting and see for themselves.

english teaching jobs are not a secret like everything else in china.

they usually change the subject very quickly

I usually just tell them in my home country you aren't suppose to talk about that information with other co-workers and it can be considered a little rude.  When I say that people usually understand and never ask again.

It was a bit of a culture shock when I came to China and saw how open people are in regards to talking about their salary.  I've seen a few cases when I first came here and would tell co-workers what I make and then as a result they were always a bit cold towards me because they thought it was unfair I got paid so much more than them (which I agree it is unfair a lot of times).