Karaoke in China does not happen in a bar in front of strangers. It happens in a private room - a KTV box - booked by the hour, with a sofa, a screen, two microphones and a telephone for ordering drinks and snacks. Chengdu's KTV culture is as developed as anywhere in the country, and for a group it is a cheap, self-contained and genuinely enjoyable evening: no performance anxiety about the table next to you, no closing time pressure, and a song catalogue of tens of thousands of tracks.
How a night works
You book a room at the front desk, choosing a size and a time band; prices rise sharply after about eight in the evening and fall again after midnight. Rooms come with a touchscreen catalogue searchable by artist, song or language, with a Chinese and a Western section. Drinks and food - beer, soft drinks, fruit plates, peanuts, fried snacks, sometimes full meals - are ordered by phone and charged to the room. Sessions run until you pay, and many venues operate around the clock.
The local repertoire
Chengdu's own popular music scene has produced a large body of songs in Sichuan dialect, and it is worth requesting at least one: the sound of Mandarin pop is familiar everywhere, but a dialect song performed badly by a room of friends is a specifically Sichuan evening. English-language songs are widely available, though the choice is far smaller than the Chinese catalogue. A translation app on the touchscreen makes the search workable if staff cannot help.
Practical notes
KTV venues cluster around Chunxi Road, the Wuhou district and the university areas, with everything from budget chains to elaborate complexes of several floors. Bring your passport for the booking in some venues, and expect to pay a deposit on the room. Consumption minimums apply in the more expensive houses at peak times. The rooms are loud and the air conditioning is aggressive, so bring a layer you can put on and expect to lose your voice. Taxis at one in the morning are easy to find in the centre but harder in residential districts.
