Chinese products are winning over an increasing number of foreign tourists with creative designs and constantly improving quality, with the country's widening visa exemption policy drawing more visitors to explore them in person.
On Shanghai’s streets, foreign visitors queue outside popular stores and crowd inside, the air alive with English, Portuguese and Thai.
Nearly 20 foreign shoppers stream through the store in a short span, most having come specially and often accompanied by relatives or friends.
"It's amazing, you guys are doing really good in designer bags. I am so just like sad because they don't have what I came to buy. Everything is sold out. They will send them back to the hotel in Beijing. I cannot believe it. Thank you for making this happen," she said.
In just half an hour of reporting, nearly 20 foreign shoppers were encountered, the majority of whom had made a special trip to the store, often accompanied by relatives or friends.
"A lot of people are buying this brand. It's pretty famous over in North America. A lot of people know about it," said a customer from Canada.
"In Thailand, it's very popular," said a customer from Thailand.
Nearly all the hotspots were Chinese original designer brands, independent labels creating fashion, accessories, and footwear with distinctive aesthetics.
Such store owners saw foreign customers now account for 60 to 70 percent of foot traffic. Having researched brands on social media before arrival, many came prepared and make targeted purchases in-store.
"I have been told about so this one I knew of and a store that's like opposite here. I followed [them] on Instagram for almost a year now. So I went to their store yesterday. That was really cool," said a customer from the United Kingdom.
"Many people say that if you come to Shanghai, you have to buy this. So when I write down the itinerary, I wrote, I have to come to here," said a Indonesian tourist.
Among Chinese original designer labels, bags, apparel, and footwear top the shopping lists. Returning visitors have noticed a dramatic shift in what they buy.
Another Indonesian tourist who came to China two decades ago recalled that back then, her shopping cart was filled mainly with souvenirs.
"We prefer Chinese brands nowadays. I found that they have very unique design and creative design, also now the quality is also good," she said.
"When I visited in 2018 or 2019, I looked for more traditional things, like tea, herbal remedies. Now, it's all about following the trends, and the goods are much more fashionable," said a customer from Singapore.
Made in China wins over foreign tourists with creative designs, better quality
