For decades, the karaoke bar dominated Chinese nightlife in both its erotic and more innocent forms. But as young megacity dwellers develop more sophisticated tastes in alcohol, music and social scenes, karaoke is taking a supporting role.

Luxury brands have enjoyed a meteoric rise amongst the expanding Chinese middle class, but with anti-corruption laws dampening the spirits of conspicuous consumers, shopping habits are shifting dramatically.

Many claim that public consumption of expensive, ostentatious luxury items is about displaying social climbing. But in China, people increasingly consume luxury in private. It's a kind of "self-reward", says UIBE professor Mike Bastin.

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.