Independent and unofficial. Not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by any retailer, shopping agent, marketplace or government body. We read Chinese-language primary documents so you don't have to, and we archive what we read.
What to buy in China, 2026
Last reviewed 22 October 2026
Foreign visitors are now arriving with empty suitcases on purpose. This page is about the second half of that trip: what is actually worth carrying home, where in China you buy it, and what decides whether it survives customs on the other end.
We wrote this from Chinese sources rather than from other English guides. Where a figure comes from an official release, we name the body and the date. Where we could not check something, we say so at the bottom instead of writing around it.
What the "China haul" story actually is
Source: Xinhua, 2 Oct 2026 — english.news.cn Xinhua's first systematic use of the phrase described visitors arriving with shopping lists rather than itineraries — an Italian tourist who had drawn up more than twenty products before landing, starting in Shenzhen because his son wanted a DJI drone. The same piece reported that overseas visitors spent 263.6 billion yuan (about 39 billion US dollars) in China in the first seven months of 2026, up 27.8% year on year, citing the Ministry of Commerce.
Source: Xinhua Chinese-language commentary, 9 Oct 2026 — news.cn The Chinese-language write-up defined the term more bluntly: travellers arrive with empty cases, leave with full ones, and post the unpacking video afterwards. It also noted that the number of overseas visitors claiming a departure tax refund rose 366% year on year in the first half of 2026, and that refunded sales in 2025 nearly doubled, roughly matching the combined total of the previous ten years.
Read that number carefully. A 366% rise in refund claims is a rise in the number of people using a scheme, not a statement about how much any individual can recover. The scheme itself has thresholds and paperwork — see the refund page before you budget around it.
1. Electronics — the reason Shenzhen is on the map
Source: Xinhua, 2 Oct 2026 — english.news.cn Huaqiangbei, Shenzhen's electronics district, now draws an average of nearly 8,000 foreign buyers a day. In the January–July 2026 period, AI product sales there rose more than 55% year on year, AI glasses doubled, and drones and robots rose 60–70%.
What people are actually buying, per the same reporting: drones and action cameras, AI glasses, foldable phones, and at the higher end, exoskeletons, 3D printers and laser engraving machines. One Shenzhen store told Xinhua that foreign tourists account for roughly 40% of its sales.
Before you pay, check three things
- Warranty geography. Domestic-market models are often warranted only inside mainland China. Ask specifically whether the serial is covered in your country, and get it in writing.
- Radio and battery rules. Drones, walkie-talkies and large lithium packs are regulated differently in every country. This is a customs question, not a shop question — the shop will sell you the item either way.
- Model variants. The same product name can ship with different band support or a different charger. Confirm the exact model code, not the marketing name.
2. Collectible toys — the most recognisable purchase of the decade
Blind boxes and designer toys, most visibly Pop Mart's Labubu line, appear in essentially every haul video that gets traction. They are small, cheap to carry, giftable, and there is no warranty question.
The practical issue is restocking, not legality: popular lines sell out, and both Xinhua's reporting and the retail coverage around it describe queues forming on restock days. If a specific figure matters to you, go on a weekday morning and ask the store about holds or delivery to your hotel.
3. Sportswear and local fashion
Source: Xinhua Chinese-language commentary, 9 Oct 2026 — news.cn The Chinese coverage describes a British sneaker blogger trying on Chinese running shoes in Dongshankou, Guangzhou, and calling the design "crazy". Sportswear, bags and footwear are consistently named alongside cosmetics and fragrance as the core of the haul.
The recurring mistake here is sizing. Chinese sizes run smaller than US or EU equivalents, and returns across borders are usually impractical. Try before you buy — that is the entire advantage of shopping in person.
4. Beauty and skincare
Domestic cosmetics brands show up in most haul videos, and the price gap versus exported versions is real. Two caveats worth more than any recommendation:
- Ingredient lists are in Chinese. If you have sensitive skin or a known allergen, photograph the box and translate before you open it, not after.
- Liquids and aerosols are restricted differently by every airline and every destination. A 200ml bottle that is fine in checked luggage may not be fine in a carry-on.
5. Snacks and tea
Source: Xinhua, 2 Oct 2026 — english.news.cn Changsha's Snack Kingdom carries more than 35,000 types of snacks and has become a stop on the itinerary. Tea, teapots and ceramics remain the traditional purchase — the difference in 2026 is that they now share suitcase space with electronics rather than filling it alone.
Food and agricultural products are the single most commonly seized category at borders, and the rules are country-specific and change without much warning. Check your own customs authority's list before you buy anything unpackaged.
6. Traditional medicine and wellness
Source: Xinhua Chinese-language commentary, 9 Oct 2026 — news.cn A Portugal-based blogger's haul of herbal syrup and related products was widely circulated in the Chinese coverage. These are the highest-risk purchases on this page: several are regulated as medicines rather than foods in the destination country, and importing them undeclared can create a real problem.
If a purchase would need declaring at customs, the honest answer is usually: declare it. The cost of a declared item is a duty. The cost of an undeclared one is the item plus a fine plus a record.
What made this trip easy: policy, not shopping skill
Source: Xinhua Chinese-language commentary, 9 Oct 2026 — news.cn China's unilateral visa-free list has grown to 50 countries, and the 240-hour transit visa-free scheme now covers 57. Foreign bank cards can be linked to Alipay and WeChat Pay from over 200 countries and regions, and mobile payment now works at a level where cash is optional in most cities.
Source: Xinhua, 2 Oct 2026 — english.news.cn Border crossings by foreign nationals reached 61.29 million in January–August 2026, up 19.5%, of which 23.72 million used visa-free entry, up 26.8%.
None of that is a reason to over-pack. It is a reason to check the current rules yourself the week you fly rather than a month earlier.
Where to go next
- Huaqiangbei, Shenzhen — the electronics market itself: what is on the ground, and the power bank rules that decide what flies home.
- Yiwu International Trade City — 80,000 stalls, the 1039 customs code, and the 30-kilometre supply chain that puts a trend on a shelf.
- Souvenirs from China — the gift list, and which of them are a bad idea to carry.
- Things to buy in China — the shorter, more opinionated list.
- The departure tax refund — thresholds, paperwork, and where the rules are actually written.
- Getting connected in China — roaming on your own SIM, priced from the operator, against the eSIM shelf price.
- Visa-free entry to China — the current country list, and the date 48 of them expire on.
Sources
- Xinhua, "Xinhua Headlines: Why global travelers flock to China with empty suitcases", 2 October 2026 — english.news.cn
- Xinhua / 千笔楼, "人均三个行李箱来华爆买，"China Haul"火了！", 9 October 2026 — news.cn
Both were read in full on 22 October 2026. Captured copies are in the archive: the English report and the Chinese commentary.
What we did not verify
- Prices. We deliberately publish none. Domestic retail prices move monthly and a stale number is worse than no number. Check the price at the counter.
- Current tax refund thresholds and rates. These are set by policy announcement and have changed more than once. See the refund page for where the official text lives rather than a figure we cannot keep current.
- Which specific stores still issue refund paperwork. Store participation changes. Confirm at the counter with the tax-free sign before you pay.
- Your country's import allowances. We are not able to verify customs rules for every destination, and we do not give customs advice. Your own customs authority is the only authority on this.
- Whether any of this trend survives past 2026. The demand is being driven by policy and media attention, both of which can change quickly.