Foreigners coming to China have entered the 4.0 "China Haul" era! Some people pay for good things, while others cry for surprises

Text/Chen Haoxing

When foreigners come to China, the gameplay has been upgraded.

From version 1.0 of "China Travel" (sightseeing), version 2.0 of "China Cool" (summer escape), version 3.0 of "Chinamaxxing" (experience Chinese life), now we have a new version 4.0: "China Haul".

This time, they not only came to China to travel, escape the summer heat, and experience Chinese culture, but also packed Chinese goodies into their suitcases and "packed" them back to their home country.

"Haul" originally means hauling and transporting, but on social media it often refers to sharing the spoils after a large amount of shopping. More and more foreign tourists are embarking on the "shopping" mode in China, "coming with empty boxes and leaving with full boxes." The shopping is not done yet. After returning home, they will also shoot unboxing videos to show their shopping trophies to overseas netizens one by one.

From "come and see China" to "bring home good Chinese goods", what exactly attracts foreign consumers to open "China Haul"? What unexpected Chinese products are on their shopping lists?

Some people pay for good things, while others cry for surprises

Judging from the unboxing videos posted by many foreign tourists visiting China, drones, action cameras, folding screen mobile phones, domestic beauty products, trendy blind boxes, Chinese herbal soaps, and moxibustion boxes are all on their shopping lists.

Some people have made their shopping lists in advance before setting off, and some tourists even come to China just to buy a special product.

A large number of foreign tourists gather at the Sanding Road Night Market in Yiwu, Zhejiang every night. Signs or shouts such as "Magnetic power bank is 50 yuan each, three mobile phone pendants are 100 yuan" attracted many people to stop and buy.

"In Yiwu, you can not only shop, but also experience the city life." Julio, a tourist from Ecuador, said that the thick smoke and smoke of Santang Road Night Market made him feel another side of China's daily life.

North Macedonian tourist Ensar Ilyazi made a shopping list early. After his trip to Shanghai, he made a special trip to Yiwu, known as the "World's Supermarket," to buy toys for his children, jewelry for his wife, and look at trendy AI products.

Walking into Yiwu International Trade City, Ensal was overwhelmed by the dazzling array of goods, the comings and goings of buyers and the constant bargaining.

After this trip, Ensar gained a lot, and even encountered the trouble of not being able to fit in his suitcase. In addition to AI companion toys that can recognize emotions and respond to touch, he also used AI tools to design an exclusive necklace for his wife at the Yiwu Global Digital Trade Center. Materials can be freely matched, creating both individuality and commemorative significance.

Some foreign tourists happily "buy, buy, buy" in China, while others burst into tears due to unexpected surprises when buying goods.

At the just-concluded Canton Fair in Guangzhou, British buyer Max Young came to the Canton Fair for the third time and specially brought his mother Susanna with him. Max Young had introduced this huge exhibition to her mother before, but she could never imagine it until she came in person this time.

Suzanne suffered a stroke and was unable to stand or walk for a time. In the service robot area of ​​the Canton Fair, she experienced an exoskeleton robot developed by a Chinese company, and with the assistance of the equipment, she tried to get up from the wheelchair and take steps again. After the experience, Susanna couldn't conceal her excitement and burst into tears.

“We don’t have anything like this there,” Susanna said with emotion. Seeing the effect of his mother's experience, Max Young placed an order on the spot and bought the equipment for his mother.

This shopping trip to China also allowed Max Young to see the market potential of the product. He said that he has never seen similar products in the UK or Europe, and hopes that this type of equipment can go to overseas markets to help people with limited mobility, especially the elderly.

Why does "China Haul" attract foreigners?

If it's just because the price is cheap, it may not be enough to support a special "China Haul trip" to China.

After all, round-trip air tickets, accommodation, and the time and energy spent on the road all mean considerable costs.

What really attracts foreign consumers is China's rich product categories, trendy smart products, and diverse consumer experiences such as personalized customization.

Yiwu is the best example. As the world's largest small commodity distribution center, Yiwu Market brings together 26 major categories and 2.1 million kinds of commodities, making it a "sea of ​​small commodities and a shopper's paradise." In the first half of this year, the average daily passenger flow of Yiwu Small Commodity Market reached 294,000, a year-on-year increase of 34%, of which the average daily passenger flow of foreign businessmen was 12,000, a year-on-year increase of 30%. During the same period, Yiwu's foreign trade export volume reached 420.7 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 17.3%.

Wang Fangyuan, a member of the Party Committee of the Yiwu Municipal Culture, Radio, Television, Tourism and Sports Bureau, believes that the implementation of the 240-hour transit visa-free policy, as well as the accelerated resumption and continued intensification of international routes, have provided a boost to the popularity of local tourism and shopping.

In addition to cost-effectiveness and rich categories, Made in China also attracts overseas consumers with its strong innovation capabilities.

Ensal used AI tools to design an exclusive necklace for his wife, and what he bought was a unique and thoughtful purchase; Suzanne burst into tears after experiencing the exoskeleton robot, and felt the hope brought by technology.

Behind this is the technological warmth conveyed by China’s “intelligent” manufacturing.