On May 17, within the Hongqiao Market in Dongcheng District, Beijing, the sound of suitcase wheels intermingled with the “ding-dong” of QR code payments, while the various languages emerging from translation devices seemed like the background music of countless transactions…
International travelers’ suitcases are becoming witnesses to more “micro cross-border trade.” Reporters noted that with the implementation of multiple favorable policies, the phenomenon of “reverse purchasing” has quietly emerged. International travelers are transforming into “cross-border buyers,” filling their suitcases with Chinese-made electronic products, toys, home goods, and more, bringing them back to their home markets for resale or personal use, creating a unique landscape of folk trade between China and foreign countries.
Analysts point out that the rise of “reverse purchasing” is not only a high recognition of the competitiveness of Chinese manufacturing by global consumers but also a vivid illustration of China’s transformation from “the world’s factory” to “the global market.”
Suitcases as New Tools of Trade
Tourist Goods and High Markup Products are Foreigners’ Favorites
Recently, the topic “ChinaTravel” on TikTok has nearly reached 1 billion views. The derivative topic “ChinaShopping” is gaining traction in China.
In the picture, foreign consumers are purchasing bamboo hats.
On May 17, reporters observed many foreign faces dragging empty suitcases to “shop” at Hongqiao and Xiushui Street. A tourist from the Middle East made his first shopping stop at a store on the second floor of Hongqiao that sells suitcases. “There are quite a few tourists like this, who buy a suitcase and then go on a shopping spree here,” the store owner told reporters, noting that suitcases have become “mobile warehouses” for international travelers.
After some haggling, Lucia (phonetic) from Spain bought four instant cameras for children at a price of 130 yuan each in a store on the first floor of Hongqiao Market. “This machine is very affordable, and the design is interesting. I will keep one for myself to record my trip, and the others I will give to friends when I return,” Lucia said.
Reporters noted that international travelers like Lucia are not few; items with tourism characteristics such as stamps, paintings, and fridge magnets, as well as high markup products like massage guns, data cables, translation earphones, and power banks have become favorites among foreigners.
“This is very meaningful as a souvenir.” William (phonetic) from the United States was attracted to a store selling stamps and paintings, and with the help of a translator, he had the owner write his Chinese name on a scroll and carved two stamps with his name to stamp on the scroll. Later, he and his friend were also attracted to bamboo hats sold in a neighboring store and excitedly ordered three, expressing their intention to bring them back to friends in their home country.
“All our silver pots are handcrafted, and the unit price is relatively high, which attracts some foreign tourists who appreciate Eastern tea culture,” a store owner selling intangible cultural heritage tea utensils told reporters. Most products in the store range from 5,000 to 10,000 yuan, with the main clientele coming from Southeast Asia and countries like France and the UK that have tea-drinking cultures.
“Tourist goods carry the dual value of satisfying tourists’ shopping needs and promoting the image of the tourist destination, making them one of the main types of products purchased by foreign tourists visiting China.” A store owner selling tourist souvenirs and crafts in Xiushui Street told reporters that replicas of cultural relics, paintings, clothing silk, pottery, portable fans, instant cameras, travel suitcases, or intangible cultural heritage and Eastern characteristic products are very popular among international travelers.
In addition to tourist goods, data cables, small appliances, and other products with high markup characteristics in both China and abroad are also filling the shopping carts and suitcases of foreigners.
Twenty fast-charging data cables, five massage guns, three shavers, four smartwatches, and a magnetic charging power bank… Jane (phonetic) from the United States returned from Hongqiao Market fully loaded. According to the store owner, the “Made in China” products she purchased all have the characteristic of “high cost performance.” “For example, fast-charging data cables are essential products that sell for over ten dollars each in the United States, but only cost a few yuan each in China, making the price difference quite considerable. They find it very cost-effective to buy these types of products.” The store owner told reporters. Reporters noted that the massage gun Jane purchased came with multiple professional massage heads and was priced at 130 yuan, while the shaver with multiple settings was priced at 200 yuan, with similar products in the United States costing several times more than in China. From her shopping list, it can be inferred that the price difference almost saved her the cost of her flight to China.
Quality-Price Ratio Drives Global Market
Folk Trade Reflects the Advancement of Chinese Manufacturing
“In the past, the perception of Chinese manufacturing among many foreign consumers was that it was cheap, but now it is more about quality.” A toy store owner who has been rooted in Hongqiao Market for nearly twenty years lamented. “Whether in design or material, the quality of toys has greatly improved. The details of some components have become increasingly refined, reflected in the fit of the joints and the smoothness of assembly.” The store owner pointed to a wooden puzzle toy shaped like the Temple of Heaven and explained to reporters.
In the picture, foreign consumers are selecting instant cameras for children.
Far across the ocean, Mia (pseudonym) also feels the same way, “I always ask friends in China to buy toys for my children. The toys used to break after a short time from being dropped and hit, but in recent years, I have clearly felt that the lifespan of toys has increased, and the quality has improved.” Mia is a person from Hubei who has lived in Chicago, USA for over ten years. She told reporters that due to inflation in the United States, many products have seen price increases, and some group buying communities have become popular among Chinese communities in the U.S. “Everyone tends to buy some toys, children’s clothing, etc., from China in a group, and if shipped by sea, the shipping cost is about 20 yuan per kilogram, which is still very cost-effective. However, there is also a risk of goods being seized, so bringing them back personally is the most reliable. Now, I know some people who regularly fly back to China for ‘reverse purchasing.'” Mia said.
Yang Yang is an entrepreneur in the crystal bracelet business. His hometown is in Jiangsu Donghai, known as the “Crystal Capital of China,” and many of his relatives are engaged in crystal-related businesses. At the beginning of his entrepreneurship, Yang Yang positioned his store as “original” and “refusing homogenization.” He selects different crystals and accessories to create bracelets himself, rather than directly purchasing finished products for resale. Yang Yang met Tai (phonetic) through the internet, and after seeing some of Yang Yang’s designs, Tai first ordered a few crystal bracelets to test the waters and was very satisfied after inspecting the goods. Now, Tai has become Yang Yang’s agent in Southeast Asia, selling Yang Yang’s products on local e-commerce platforms through an independent site. “High quality, personalized design, and high cost performance” is Tai’s evaluation of the crystal bracelets made in China.
Whether it is Mia or Tai, the purchasing lists of foreign consumers are quietly rewriting the global consumption map.
“The essence of ‘reverse purchasing’ is the dual recognition of the international market for the cost performance and innovation of Chinese manufacturing. From the early days of Chinese people purchasing milk powder and luxury goods overseas to now foreigners purchasing Chinese products, this role reversal reflects a qualitative change in China’s supply chain from ‘catching up’ to ‘running alongside.'” Liu Zhaorui, director of the Capital Market Research Center at the China Ecological City Research Institute, stated that this wave of “reverse purchasing” driven by policy openness and manufacturing upgrades not only injects new vitality into the Chinese consumer market but also allows the world to see the solid steps of “Chinese manufacturing” transitioning to “Chinese quality manufacturing.”
Actions speak louder than words. On May 17, one after another, tourist buses filled with international travelers stopped outside the north gate of Hongqiao Market. As foreign tourists’ suitcases become the “capillaries” of cross-border trade, the upgrading path of Chinese manufacturing is connecting the world in a more grounded way.
By | Reporter Wang Yang
