Privately owned PVC pipe manufacturer Zhejiang Ruan's Plastic Industry Co. Ltd. was the hot topic at a recent local job fair in Shaoxing, Zhejiang province. The company posted an ad at its booth touting "managerial positions with annual salaries from 80,000 yuan (US$11,718) to 800,000 yuan (US$117,182), plus perks including housing."

According to local media reports, the company said it didn't receive as many applications as it expected. A human resources representative said the job requirements are high, including at least eight years of experience in the field and outstanding leadership skills.

Since the company gave a wide pay range rather than a specific position that will pay at the high-end range, I suspect the number could be more of a show than reality. The company runs 10 extrusion lines and claimed 2008 sales of about 100 million yuan ($15 million).

One thing to keep in mind, however, is that a Chinese person's annual salary could be just a small part of his/her annual income. Bonuses, allowances and other benefits/perks can easily add up to a couple times of the salary at some Chinese companies and government agencies. At foreign-invested companies, on the other hand, the total income is more in line with the salary. So if you happen to want to find out a Chinese friend's income level (the question "How much money do you make?" is not a social taboo in China), don't just ask about the salary.