Spending on TV advertisements in China is declining as an overall share of advertising. By the end of 2019, Alibaba’s ad revenue is forecast to be 63% greater than total ad spending on TV. Nevertheless, TV advertising has its place in China and brands are getting smarter about using it to reach Chinese consumers with tactics such as product placements … even those that have humorous, but blatant promotion. The infographic below highlights some of the most effective strategies brands are using TV advertisements in China nowadays.

Another year, another huge hit for Alibaba!

China’s hottest app Douyin has lured more than 150 million Chinese watching dozens of short videos every day. Its reach has also influenced and promoted the development of urban cultural tourism. During the Spring Festival holiday in 2018, Xi’an received more than 12.69 million visitors, a year-on-year increase of 67% – much of the growth considered a result of popular Xi’an videos on Douyin. Tourism revenue exceeded ¥10.3 billion, a year-on-year increase of 137%. During the Dragon Boat Festival holiday in 2018, Chongqing Hongyadong received more than 170,000 visitors, an increase of 143% over the same period last year, much of the grow a result of Douyin.

Chinese love property. 90% of families in the country own their home, giving China one of the highest home ownership rates in the world. The majority of Chinese investors’ portfolios are dominated by property.

The first quarter of 2017 has been a successful one for China’s internet giants: Tencent’s revenue topped ￥49,6 billion (around $7.2 billion) according to the company’s quarterly report.

Chinese cuisine has a rich and diverse heritage with some notable differences across regions. Alibaba’s 2017 China Household Table Consumption Trends Report highlights some of these variances and how purchases can change with gender and by special holidays.

“Fresh Food” has become the main theme on Chinese tables as consumers are increasingly attracted to a healthy lifestyle.

One month in office and Trump’s practices remain one of the hot topics on Chinese social media. China Skinny have partnered with Findoout to gain insights into how Trump’s presidency is influencing the Chinese consumer market for American brands.

O2O is one of the most cost effective and engaging marketing strategies brands can adopt in China. Most aspirational brands selling in China have a strong O2O component in their marketing mix, yet many foreign brands have been falling behind in implementing O2O initiatives in China.

Baidu is China’s most popular search engine, accounting for 80% of the search market.

Following the melamine scandal in 2008, China’s dairy industry has changed dramatically. No other product segment experiences the same lack of trust in the domestic supply chain quite like milk.

Alibaba’s focus for Singles’ Day changed this year from deals to international products and entertainment.

The act of shopping has spread across different countries in unique ways, and each market has adopted its own local habits, trends, influences and behaviours. China is a country where shopping plays a huge role in daily life, as consumers regard shopping a higher priority in their lives compared to other markets. The graphic below illustrates to what extent shopping shapes Chinese' lifestyles

It is indisputable that Baidu is the dominant search engine in China. Although there are other search engines such as 360 and Sogou, their market share remains small compared to Baidu’s.

Alibaba's growth has been remarkable over the past few years, cementing its position the central pillar of China's ecommerce industry. With Tmall and Taobao, Alibaba is successfully furnishing the market needs in China by providing B2C and C2C platforms.

Late last month, Beijing announced that they would be introducing new taxes for goods purchased through cross border commerce and Daigou.

If you were unsure whether China's consumers are still shopping, look no further than Alibaba's latest financials. Whilst the growth rates were around half of the giddying heights of 2014, they are from a much larger base and still make our eyes water.

Chinese youth, also known as the Millennials, are the country's main hope to lead the consumption revolution. They already earn more, spend more and travel more than older generations. With a population the size of the USA, as they grow older and wealthier, they will only contribute more to China's, and the world's, consumption. It's a good idea to understand them as they're likely to be buying whatever you're selling. We hope the infographic below helps:To find out more about Chinese consumers and what they like, check out China Skinny's WeChat infographic or subscribe to our weekly newsletter.