The day the music died

A major KTV chain has closed its flagship Party World in Beijing, in a trend that sees young people seeking new options for entertainment, Sun Yuanqing and Yang Moziyan report.

For Gao Weiguo, a 35-year-old who works in the IT industry, a karaoke bar is where he spent his free time when he was in his 20s. He would go there with his colleagues during lunch breaks and with his friends on weekends.

KTV attracts not only the ordinary workers, but also the celebrities. Gao recalls bumping into movie stars from time to time. The karaoke bars used to provide free buffets, which were another big draw for the customers. A frequent visitor to KTV bars 10 years ago, he rarely goes to them anymore.