In major cities like Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen, a comfortable middle-class lifestyle often requires a household income of ¥200,000 to ¥600,000 ($28,000 to $85,000) due to high costs of living.

Middle-class Chinese are increasingly turning away from luxury brands. B.Zhou/Shutterstock Ripples hit the world The global implications of all this are significant. When 500 million people change ...