Lucky for some Bars cash in on China's fortune-telling craze

In the age of self-help, self-improvement, and self-obsession, there have never been more places to look to for guidance. To some, though, it feels as if our ancestors knew more about life than we do. And so it is that scores of young Chinese are turning to ancient forms of divination to find out what the future holds.

- Amy Hawkins

In the past couple of years, fortune-telling bars have been popping up in China's cities, offering drinks and snacks alongside xuanxue, or spiritualism.

With a deep-rooted culture of mysticism that blends Taoist, Buddhist, and folk practices and has defied decades of government efforts to stamp out superstition, for many Chinese people turning to the unseen makes perfect sense. This week, I decided to join them.

My xuanxue haunt of choice is Qie Le, a newly opened bar in Beijing's wealthy Chaoyang district. On a Thursday evening, the bar, adorned with yellow Taoist talismans and draped translucent curtains, is quiet – all the better for hogging the fortune-teller's attention. But Wan Mo sees me coming a mile off. It's strictly one question per drink purchased.