SHANGHAI — On a bustling afternoon along Shanghai's Nanjing Road pedestrian street, often dubbed the "No 1 Commercial Street in China", many foreigners are practicing a new travel trend popular on social media: arriving in China with an empty suitcase, intending to leave with it full.

"Our theme for today is 'buy, buy, buy'!" said Gio Valentino, an Australian tourist shopping at a Li-Ning sportswear store with his girlfriend.

Valentino said Chinese sportswear brands are gaining popularity abroad for their modern designs and good performance. "The 'buy and refund' tax policy is also very convenient and important for tourists," he added.

Smart tech trend

While traditional goods remain popular, foreign shoppers' 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 are packed with foreign visitors.

Examining an NEV, Spanish tourist Bernat Ragues Soler said,"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 said "Made in China" has left a fresh impression on him recently. "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 said, adding that he plans to buy unique lighting and electronics for friends before leaving Shanghai.

Policy boost

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 showed 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, transactions made by foreigners using overseas-issued cards within China grew by over 100 percent. Similarly, Alipay data showed that foreign tourist spending via its app surged 97 percent year-on-year in the last three months as of Nov 19.

Value prioritized

Experts believe the shopping frenzy signals a structural shift in how the world views Chinese manufacturing.

"The growing preference of foreign tourists for Chinese AI products, electric vehicles and smart wearables reflects a shift in global demand for Chinese manufacturing from 'price-driven' to 'value-driven'," said Wang Jian, deputy director of the Institute of China Studies at the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences.

Wang said that as China's industrial system perfects its digital capabilities, the country is transforming from a "world factory" to 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 said.

Xinhua - China Daily