High-end smart products are driving a new wave of consumer demand during China's eight-day combined National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival holiday, which kicked off on Wednesday.
Once the stuff of science fiction, like stringless guitars that produce rich chords and AI-powered glasses that act as real-time translators, are now becoming everyday companions for Chinese consumers.
In Nantou Ancient City in the southern metropolis Shenzhen, a store dedicated to selling cutting-edge, futuristic gadgets is teeming with shoppers eager to experience the latest innovations firsthand.
"I really want to try those real-time translation glasses and the flying cameras. Seeing so many domestically made tech products fills me with pride," said Chen Peiyao, a customer browsing the store.
The store's manager said that they offer nearly 2,000 kinds of products from over 300 brands. Since its opening in 2022, booming customer traffic and an expanding product lineup quickly outgrew their original space, prompting a move just one year later into a spacious new 2,000-square-meter flagship location.
In Chengdu, the capital city of southwest China's Sichuan Province, a dedicated smart home experience center has drawn flocks of visitors.
Its five floors have been transformed into real living environments, complete with living rooms, bedrooms, kitchens, and balconies, allowing customers to shift from traditional "shopping for products" to immersive "living in the scene" experiences.
"For example, as soon as you walk in, the lights turn on and the curtains automatically close. It's really something that creates a mood," said Chen Xu, a visitor.
For those captivated by a particular setup, the center offers fully customized solutions that integrate interior design, furniture, and smart appliances.
"As people's quality of life keeps improving, standalone products no longer meet their needs. Our showroom is built around real-life scenarios. Since opening on April 19, we've already attracted 1,041 potential customers," said Wu Qinhui, manager of the smart home experience center.
High-end smart techs fuel holiday shopping in China
A former television host from Taiwan, Zhai Xuan, has made a pivotal decision to leave mainstream broadcasting in order to create content that provides a better understanding of the Chinese mainland and cross-strait relations.
Zhai, a seasoned television host with over a decade of experience in Taiwan's media landscape, recently addressed an audience at an event in Beijing, where she revealed her complete transition into independent online media.
In her remarks, she articulated her aspiration to bridge what she perceives as a significant information gap between audiences on both sides of the Strait, highlighting her commitment to fostering a deeper understanding and connection through her new endeavors.
"I was really surprised by all the fake news. There were stories saying people on the mainland can't afford tea eggs or that they live in mud houses and in Taiwan, this was the main information many people received," said Zhai.
Zhai said she initially began producing online videos to challenge such perceptions while continuing her work as a television host.
In April 2025, she travelled to the mainland with her father to fulfill her late grandfather's wish to return to his hometown. The trip, which reunited family members separated since 1949, was recorded in a video series titled "Journey to Find Our Roots", drawing attention from viewers in both Taiwan and the mainland.
"Many people in Taiwan told me that after watching, they wanted to apply for a mainland travel permit immediately and go looking for their relatives. Some had long forgotten these things, but after seeing my story, they began thinking about their hometowns and family members they had never met and decided to search for their roots," Zhai shared her story at the event.
By mid-2025, Zhai said she began to feel increasing pressure amid rising political tensions and a tightening atmosphere around cross-Strait exchanges in Taiwan.
After more than 12 years in the industry, Zhai resigned from her position, believing it was the right thing to do.
"At that moment, I felt this was a major issue，not just for me, but for Chinese people on both sides of the Strait. If I backed down then, I wouldn’t be standing on the right side," said Zhai.
Since leaving television, Zhai has broadened her online programming to encompass a range of daily-life topics, including practical guidance on applying for a mainland travel permit and using commonly employed mobile applications, in addition to content that delves into historical memory and cultural connections across the Strait.
As the debate over cross-Strait relations continues in Taiwan, Zhai said she remains committed to her current path.
Former Taiwan TV host bridges cross-Strait divide via online media
