Brands from around the world are keen to appeal to China's evolving middle market. But what do Chinese people want from foreign brands, and how do they choose between them? We spoke to marketing professor Lily Dong to find out.

Is tea still the most popular drink in China? And do logo-centric brands still dominate luxury? In our 2014 / 15 cultural snapshot of China, we demystify cultural myths, shed light on the country’s economic outlook, and explore the emerging and established trends across eleven sectors.

In China, IKEA is a furniture-filled theme park where people are welcome to spend an entire day – even if they don’t buy anything. The Swedish furniture store has adapted to the nuances of Chinese shopping - but will it be successful?

China boasts the world’s biggest internet network – an estimated 618 million people are connected to the internet, with 500 million of them surfing via mobile. So it makes sense that the internet of things is taking off, too. From TVs to fridges, Chinese homes have never looked so smart.