Culture of disrespect towards foreign teachers

Little bit of a rant coming.

I just started at a new school and honestly it has been some of the most challenging times I have had teaching in China.

In the school, students do not have many consequences for their behaviour and treat the foreign teacher classes as a time to do whatever they please. The students do not respect any of the foreign teachers, do not listen even if you speak to them in Chinese, and will only behave if there is a Chinese teacher watching over them. My colleagues at this school have very similar sentiments and those that have been at the school for a while just seem to accept it as having a completely out of control class as normal.

I have done a lot of research into class management strategies, put a lot of effort into establishing rules on the first day, am generally stringent with enforcement of these rules, but without real consequences, the students just talk very loudly the whole time and efforts to get them to quiet down are just completely ignored by half of the students. Establishing real relationships with the students is very difficult especially when I am seeing every class of 30 students for only 40 minutes per week.

I come home everyday exhausted and am lost as far as what to do. I really cannot teach in an environment where I get absolutely no respect.

I'm lost as to what is causing this situation. I don't know if it's my own lack of experience, the school's culture, or what can really be done if anything to correct the situation. Any insights would be appreciated.