Any traveler to China will quickly notice that English letters are frequently interspersed among Chinese characters in signs and on buildings. Some of these may be familiar, such OK and hi. Others may not be, and one of the most common, yet unfamiliar, is KTV.
KTV stands for Karaoke Television, China's name for a karaoke bar. Invented in Japan, karaoke first came to China via Hong Kong hotels. It quickly spread to Beijing and Shanghai, where locals quickly got in on the scene. Originally a tourist attraction, karaoke has become a Chinese pastime, complete with KTV establishments in nearly every city across China.
You can find Chinese karaoke bars in nearly every city across the world with a significant Chinese population; it's not just limited to China. These bars cater to different types of people: restaurants have catered karaoke rooms, and hotels have karaoke venues for everyone. Cities in China and places with larger Chinese populations have dedicated karaoke establishments. Called "karaoke boxes," you rent a room and karaoke equipment, typically by the hour. These businesses have both large, open rooms and smaller, more intimate ones. Often, they include food service.
You can also buy Chinese karaoke equipment and music. A Chinese system will usually come with a preloaded jukebox system (nowadays always electronic) and remote control. Some come with monitors and microphones, and most have hard drives for additional storage. A typical system will set you back $500 to $1,500.
When buying, consider:
Once you find a KTV venue or set up your own system, invite some friends over and have fun with Chinese karaoke!