At a recent regular press conference of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, a reporter asked that after "China Travel" and "Chinamaxxing", "China Haul (China Shopping Unboxing)" has also become popular on social platforms recently. Many foreign tourists come to China and queue up to purchase a large number of Chinese goods. They come with empty boxes and return with full ones. Videos of unboxing and sharing Chinese goodies can be seen everywhere. Many people are also queuing up outside Chinese brand pop-up stores in London, Paris and other places to buy. What does the spokesperson think of this phenomenon?
Spokesperson Mao Ning said that he is glad that more and more foreign friends believe that China is worth coming to, Chinese brands are worth buying, and Chinese life is worth experiencing. I think this reflects the attractiveness of China's industrial vitality, market fireworks and social conveniences.
What is "China Haul"?
Unboxing video, full of fresh and diverse Chinese goodies
On overseas social platforms, the topic "China Haul" (China Shopping Unboxing) continues to become popular.
“China Haul” is an unboxing video of “what I bought and what I found” in China. From technological products such as drones, action cameras, and foldable screen mobile phones, to local "fashionable local products" such as bags, clothing, and aromatherapy, whether it is travel experts who come to China with empty suitcases or overseas netizens who frequently place orders on cross-border e-commerce platforms, they are using videos to record the amazing harvest of "trophies" one after another.
Some people make a special trip to check in for "hidden items" trendy items, some are attracted by the cost-effectiveness of Chinese smart devices, and some turn the shopping process into travel memories to share with netizens around the world. Moreover, in order to "buy, buy, buy" more efficiently, they also learned to use Chinese e-commerce platforms to shop online and send all online shopping to hotels in China, so that they can take it all away when they return.
"It's so convenient, everything is on your phone and the app, it's like everything takes 2 minutes and is delivered to your door." British traveler James Robert said.
Daniel, a tourist from Slovenia, thinks China is a very interesting country. “There are many new technologies and you can see things developing very fast. There is a lot of history. It is a great place. I bought some clothes, tea, and toys. There are many shops here, and my luggage is limited, but there are too many choices.”
Looking through the "unpacking list" of foreign bloggers, there are handmade ceramic cups with unique shapes, oriental tea sets with warm texture, trendy blind boxes and plush toys that are addictive, as well as highly designed Chinese clothing and beauty accessories, and a dazzling array of daily goodies are packed to the brim. Many overseas netizens left comments below the video and lamented: "I advise everyone to travel as lightly as possible when traveling to China, because you will definitely be exhausted!"
During this year’s Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day holidays, the inbound and outbound passenger flow at China’s ports is at a high level. According to data from the National Immigration Administration, 15.462 million people entered and exited the country during the National Day holiday.
"China Haul" not only showcases a wide range of products, but also vivid and three-dimensional Chinese life. When exquisite handmade ceramics, interesting trendy blind boxes and other daily goodies full of oriental charm are packed into the suitcase, overseas audiences see a three-dimensional China that can not only display modern design ingenuity but also convey warm life aesthetics. When the connection of goods sublimates into cultural resonance, this spontaneous unboxing craze among the people is letting the world see a more real and dynamic China.
Why is “China Haul” so popular?
Policy support, science and technology culture attract global tourists
The Chinese government’s increasingly flexible and open visa-free policy has made it easier for foreign tourists to come to China. Up to now, the Chinese government’s transit visa-free policy has benefited 57 countries around the world, with the number of applicable ports of entry increased to 65, and the activity area covers 24 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities across the country.
The latest data released by the National Immigration Administration in September showed that in the first eight months of this year, 61.287 million foreigners entered and exited the country at ports, a year-on-year increase of 19.5%; among them, visa-free entry for foreigners increased by 26.8% year-on-year, accounting for 77.6% of incoming foreigners. In other words, nearly 8 out of every 10 foreigners entering China now come to China through visa-free means.
As the benefits of the visa-free policy continue to be released, many foreign tourists come to China for in-depth tours.
Ayman, a tourist from Algeria, said: "I basically traveled all over China. China is very interesting. Every time I come to China, it feels like there is something new. Because it is the Mid-Autumn Festival, I bought a lot of gifts for my friends and my family, especially moon cakes."
At the same time, experiencing traditional Chinese health culture and products has also entered the consumption list of foreign tourists. Traditional Chinese medicine soaps, moxibustion products, traditional Chinese medicine diets, etc. are becoming more and more popular, and the cross-border consumption model of "medical treatment + tourism + shopping" is becoming increasingly professional.
Krodya Olika, general manager of the Russian Ayaks Travel Agency, said that traditional Chinese medicine beauty projects are very attractive to Russian women, and related products are also popular among tourists. "I am optimistic about the development prospects of this business and look forward to the smooth progress of our cooperation."
Going beyond traditional sightseeing and shopping, with the continuous advancement of China’s technological capabilities, smart factories and “factory technology tours” have become a new trend in inbound cultural tourism. In the automobile factory of an intelligent manufacturing company, the cutting-edge intelligent manufacturing scene dazzles overseas tourists.
Brazilian tourists entered the factory and saw the operating efficiency of the robots, the manufacturing process of parts, and the stamping process of directly molding body parts from molten metal. They said the whole process was simply "too cool."
According to company staff, the number of foreign-related visits has grown significantly this year. Starting from May this year, the company has officially opened special English explanation sessions to the outside world, and continues to improve multi-lingual tour guide services to better meet the needs of foreign tourists.
Cai Shangwei, director of the Cultural Industry Research Center of Sichuan University, said that China is becoming a daily occurrence in the world. "They actively and naturally come to China to consume these Chinese products, Chinese daily necessities, not souvenirs, and then consume the Chinese lifestyle."
Boxes of goodies are unpacked again and again, allowing the world to understand China. As Mao Ning answered at the press conference, "China will continue to open its door and let more foreigners understand and fall in love with China through two-way exchanges."
