Luxury shopping is at the top of to-do lists for half of China's international travellers – despite the fact that they could easily find many of their purchases at home or online. They're opting to travel abroad because it adds an experiential dimension to their shopping trips.

For the last decade, Chinese magazines, sites and government bodies have been labelling unmarried women over 27 as sheng nu –‘leftover women’ – in a bid to counter a social trend seen as destabilising society. But who are these leftover women? And why should brands be paying attention to them?

While China is well-known for its love of luxury fashion labels, the nation’s holidaymakers aren’t as enamoured with high-end accommodation. Hong-Kong based Rosewood Hotel Group recognises this, attracting travellers with local knowledge and home comforts over luxury and prestige.

Shanghai-based start-up VeChain is taking a high-tech approach to combatting the counterfeits that plague the high-end fashion market, using blockchain technology to track luxury goods. By charting the history of each item, it can ensure prospective buyers that they're getting the real deal.