and as long as one isn't too concerned about his or her future, it may be enough. It's not everyone's goal or dream, but it's something for a while.

Indeed. And there are plenty of laowais who really don't give a rats arse. Not against you, just saying.

I even met one english woman who said she has no time for worrying about all that retirement crap, just wants to shop and spend on her house back home.

It's something for a while, is true. Especially as the economy is so arse backwards in the eurozone. To put it into perspective, a teaching job in Spain will pay 10,000 rmb (1,000 euros) a month for 25 classes a week...and without any flat included. If you look at it that way, 5,000 rmb a month and a free flat is good to some...need I mention, even in the Euro countries, you need to contribute to your pension for 15 years to get in the system, and it is something like 300 euros a month...good luck living off 700 euros a month and paying rent in somewhere like Madrid, you would save literally nothing! I only say this because all my family live in Spain...there is a generation growing up only knowing the welfare state, for them, why not China?

Cheers on,
SMGS