Reference News Network, December 25 report (text by Wang Yongqian, Tang Siqui, Chen Haoming) At the entrance of a domestic trend toy store on Nanjing East Road in Shanghai, foreign tourists are queuing up; in Shenzhen's Huabei commercial area, buyers from overseas are selecting and placing orders; inside the International Duty-Free City in Sanya, Hainan, the number of foreign faces coming to shop is increasing... The Chinese shopping experience, with its diversity and innovation, continues to attract global consumers.

From "Go China" to "China Shopping", from trendy toys and clothes in suitcases to mobile phones, new energy vehicles, and artificial intelligence (AI) products, the "foreigners'" shopping carts not only contain Chinese-made products, but also carry interest and recognition of the Chinese lifestyle. Decoding this special "shopping cart" reveals that "Made in China" has gradually become a medium for cultural value and civilizational dialogue. Unique culture and lifestyle have made the world exclaim, "China is becoming cool!"

"Going to China with an empty suitcase" becomes a popular topic

At noon, the Nanjing East Road pedestrian street is crowded with people, and foreign tourists frequently stop along this "First Commercial Street of China". In the Miniso Global One Store, South Korean tourist Han Rui is selecting co-branded IP products and daily necessities with her friends. "Tea, trendy toys, clothes... Every time I come to China, I get new surprises," she said.

"Our theme today is 'buy, buy, buy'!" said Australian tourist Geo, who was trying on clothing with his girlfriend at the Li-Ning store. "Chinese sports brands are also popular abroad, with new styles, high cost-effectiveness, and the 'buy and refund immediately' policy, which is very important for tourists."

Zhang Shun, assistant manager of the Bosideng Nanjing East Road flagship store, told reporters that foreign customers have become an important consumer force in the store. "After the store's renovation and opening and the addition of tax refund services, the enthusiasm of foreign customers for purchasing has significantly increased. They often buy four or five pieces at once, spending one or two ten thousand yuan or more, accounting for one-third of sales," he said.

Under the positive impetus of expanded visa exemptions and optimized departure tax refund policies, the popularity of "China travel" and "China shopping" continues to rise. Data from the China National Immigration Administration shows that from January to August 2025, the number of foreign visitors entering China under visa exemption reached 15.89 million, an increase of 52.1% compared to the same period last year.

This wave of inbound tourism is directly reflected in the consumption sector.

UnionPay continuously optimizes payment services for foreign personnel coming to China. Data shows that from January to November 2025, the number of "outbound use within" QR code transactions on UnionPay network and the transaction amount increased by 100% and 77% respectively compared to the same period last year. The number of transactions using overseas UnionPay cards within the country increased by more than 100%. The latest data released by the State Taxation Administration shows that the number of foreign passengers who applied for departure tax refunds in the first 11 months of this year increased by 285%, while the sales amount of tax refund goods and the tax refund amount increased by 98.8%.

Data from Alipay also shows that as of November 19, the consumption amount of foreign tourists using Alipay in the past three months increased by 97% year-on-year. The top ten cities where inbound tourists love to use Alipay for "buy, buy, buy" are Guangzhou, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Beijing, Jinhua, Zhuhai, Foshan, Hangzhou, Suzhou, and Dongguan, almost all of which are major hubs of China's manufacturing and industrial clusters.

Coming with empty suitcases and returning full. With the promotion of social media, "Going to China with an empty suitcase" has become a hot topic overseas. Many bloggers have carefully compiled "China shopping lists", listing trend toys, Chinese handicrafts, and electronic products as must-buy recommendations.

Libanese tourist Ghasan shared, "I mainly learn about China through social media like Instagram, where there are many travel check-in guides and shopping recommendations." He visited Shanghai for a business trip, "I plan to buy some tea and handicrafts for my family as souvenirs."

Exclaiming about hit products: "Too cool"

In the Huawei Global Flagship Store in Shanghai, many foreign consumers gather in the smartphone, smart wearable device, and new energy vehicle exhibition areas. Spanish tourist Bernat is checking on his phone and exclaims, "From the perspective of technology, this car is really cool. We want to know which of these cars can be bought in Europe now." His companion Meritxel is attracted by the cinema mode inside the car: "This is amazing, there's even a cinema in the car!"

Bernat praised, "Made in China" in recent years has given him a new impression. "Whether it's IP creation or electronic products, they are impressive, especially in the electric vehicle field, China's battery technology is world-class." Before leaving Shanghai, he plans to select some unique lamps and electronic products that are rare in Spain for his relatives and friends, and expressed his intention to continue paying attention to the electrification and intelligent development of Chinese cars in the future.

In the DJI flagship store located in the Xintiandi commercial area, many foreign tourists are enthusiastically buying the latest products. Store manager Xue Min introduced that in November, four foreign customers came to the store together, buying more than ten products from drones to action cameras, with a total consumption exceeding 90,000 yuan. "They were testing and video calling while showing the products to their friends in China," Xue Min said. With the continuous expansion of the range of visa-exempt countries, such groups of foreign consumers who come to the store together, place orders directly, and take on the role of agents have clearly increased. Many of them walk straight into the drone area upon entering the store.

Behind the countless "foreigners" shopping in China is the powerful resilience, agile adaptability, and creative "Made in China".

China has become the world's largest producer and exporter of automobiles. In the first 11 months of this year, the production and sales of new energy vehicles in China both approached 15 million units, with growth rates exceeding 30% each. According to a report by the World Intellectual Property Organization, China has become the largest holder of global AI patents, with a share of 60%. As of September 2025, the number of AI companies in China exceeded 5,300, with a global share of 15%, forming a complete industrial system covering basic infrastructure, model frameworks, and industry applications.

Products such as drones, AI glasses, and smart translation devices are a symbol of the rapid iteration of "Made in China". Australian blogger Ruixia released a video stating that what shocked him most about coming to China was not only the long history, but also the "extremely fast" technological progress. He showed his Chinese AI glasses, which can shoot and record with just one command. "The AI glasses are not only a shooting device, but also the most important partner in my travels."

New quality productivity is becoming a new capability for international communication and global narratives. "The growing affection of foreign tourists for Chinese AI products, electric vehicles, and smart wearable devices reflects the shift of global market demand for Chinese manufacturing from price-driven to value-driven," said Wang Jian, deputy director of the Institute of World Sinology at the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences. Now, "Made in China" is not only a provider of material products, but also a medium for cultural values and civilizational dialogue.

"Taking away" Chinese lifestyle

Counting the number of new energy vehicles passing through the intersection in one minute, practicing Tai Chi with elderly friends in the park, listening to stories about urban governance in front of a hospital built from historical buildings... Now, more and more foreign tourists are no longer satisfied with sightseeing, but hope to immerse themselves in Chinese life and take this experience "away".

After one minute of counting, many foreigners were stunned: the proportion of new energy vehicles at the Shanghai intersection is close to 40% to 50%. "This direct perception brings a strong impact," said Liu Sen, co-founder of "Dongxingji", a company specializing in in-depth China tours. "They see with their own eyes that China's green and intelligent transformation has already been integrated into daily life."

Swedish tourist Victoria deeply resonated with this "visible and tangible" cultural experience: "We are preparing to give a pair of Chinese chopsticks to our family members who have never come to China as a gift. In the West, we use knives and forks, while chopsticks carry the unique dietary wisdom of the Chinese people."

Beyond goods, foreign tourists also take away a sense of emotional identification. Near the Nine-Bend Bridge in Yu Garden, several Japanese tourists wearing Hanfu stand out. Isomura Mifune, who stayed in Shanghai for 8 hours due to a layover, told reporters, "We specially came from the airport here just to wear Hanfu and take a photo session." Her companion Tanaka Saeko said that in Japan's social media platforms, the Chinese-style Hanfu look is very popular.

Wang Jian stated that the "shopping cart" of foreign tourists contains not only goods, but also recognition of China's innovation, culture, and lifestyle. This transformation from "symbolic viewing" to "lifestyle integration" not only allows foreign tourists to more intuitively feel the contemporary vitality of Chinese culture, but also reflects the increasingly enhanced appeal and attractiveness of Chinese culture in innovative inheritance.

Original: toutiao.com/article/7587702429741400622/

Statement: The article represents the personal views of the author.