Some interesting points mentioned in the posts above.
I've been living in China for 2 years now and just a word on the partying thread...To be honest there's nothing wrong with enjoying your time here as long as you turn up on time for work, teach the kids to be the best of your ability, respect the culture of your hosts..Having said that I noticed in an earlier post that somebody mentioned about the influx of less desireable traits amongst the "fake" teachers that are arriving and the fact that the natives find some of our ways offensive. I love China, I find the Chinese to be generally kind and good natured people but I think they have as many offensive habits as we do. Taking a dump or piss on the street in broad daylight, having no concept of a queue, hiking up the prices because we are white, telling blatant lies to save face, staring at you blatantly for prolonged periods, calling the Chinese partners of foreigners unpatriotic if they notice their partner is being ripped off and they do something about it,leaving a steaming pile of poo at the back of the squat, getting really drunk on Baijiu by 8pm and throwing up all over the place.All of the above I have witnessed first hand on numerous occasions.

Let's be honest, it's 6 of 1 and half a dozen of the other. Embrace the history and culture of where ever you are, try not to offend people, enjoy yourself( which includes partying if that's what you want to do).