Shanghai — On a bustling afternoon in December, along Shanghai's Nanjing Road, often dubbed "China's No 1 Commercial Street," many foreigners are practicing a new travel trend popular on social media: arriving in China with an empty suitcase and leaving with it full.
"Our theme for today is, 'Buy, buy, buy'," says Gio Valentino, an Australian tourist shopping at a LI-NING sportswear store with his girlfriend.
Valentino notes that Chinese sportswear brands are gaining popularity abroad for their modern designs and high value. "The 'buy and refund' tax policy is very convenient and important to tourists," he adds.
While traditional goods remain popular, the foreign appetite for Chinese products has extended rapidly to high-tech sectors, driven by the country's smart manufacturing capabilities.
Inside a Huawei flagship store in Shanghai, the exhibition areas for smartphones, wearables, and new energy vehicles were packed with international visitors.
Examining a NEV, Spanish tourist Bernat Ragues Soler says, "We really want to know which of these cars are available in Europe." His companion, Meritxell Bosch Ponsa, was captivated by the vehicle's interior cinema mode. "It's amazing; there's actually a cinema inside the car!"
Ragues Soler notes that "Made in China" has recently left a fresh impression on him. "Whether it is IP creation or electronic products, it is impressive. Especially in the field of electric vehicles, China's battery technology is world-class," he says, adding that he plans to buy unique lighting and electronics for friends before leaving Shanghai.
This sentiment is echoed at a DJI flagship store in downtown Shanghai. Store manager Xue Min recounts a recent visit by four Russian customers who purchased over 10 products, including drones and action cameras, totaling more than 90,000 yuan ($12,805).
"They were video calling their friends in Russia while testing the products," Xue says. "With more countries being added to the visa-free list, we are seeing more foreign consumers coming in groups. Many head straight for the drone section."
Favorable policies, including expanded visa-free entry and optimized payment services, underpin the surge in shopping in China.
Data from China's National Immigration Administration shows that from January to August 2025, 15.89 million foreign nationals entered China visa-free, a year-on-year increase of 52.1 percent.
Financial infrastructure has kept pace. According to card payment giant China UnionPay, in the first 11 months of this year, transactions made by foreigners using overseas-issued cards within China grew by over 100 percent. Similarly, Alipay data shows that foreign tourist spending via its app surged 97 percent year-on-year in the last three months as of Nov 19.
The top 10 cities for Alipay payments include manufacturing hubs such as Guangzhou, Foshan, Dongguan, and Shenzhen in Guangdong province, suggesting a correlation between industrial clusters and tourist shopping.
State Taxation Administration data further reveals that from January to November, the number of overseas travelers receiving tax refunds jumped by 285 percent, while total sales of duty-free goods rose by 98.8 percent.
Experts believe the shopping frenzy signals a structural shift in how the world views Chinese manufacturing.
"Foreign tourists' growing preference for Chinese AI products, electric vehicles and smart wearables reflects a shift in global demand for Chinese manufacturing from 'price-driven' to 'value-driven'," says Wang Jian, deputy director of the Institute of China Studies at the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences.
Wang adds that as China's industrial system perfects its digital capabilities, the country is transforming from a world factory into a vital source of global technological and product innovation.
"From trying on qipao and hanfu to experiencing tea ceremonies and buying the latest tech, foreign tourists' shopping carts are loaded not just with commodities, but with a recognition of Chinese innovation, culture and lifestyle," Wang says.
Xinhua
