Number of overseas travelers claiming departure tax refunds up 366%, 'China Haul' goes viral

"China Haul" (Chinese shopping unboxing) has gone viral on overseas social platforms, with overseas bloggers showing off suitcases full of digital products and trendy cultural creative goods after returning home, and foreign tourists making lists before their trips to shop in cities such as Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen. During the National Day holiday from October 1 to 7, Beijing Capital Airport Customs processed 3,428 departure tax refund application forms, up 275.47% year on year, while Shanghai Customs completed 11,000 departure tax refund verifications, up 1.6 times year on year. Spending by inbound tourists has shifted from tea and silk to Chinese technology, design and lifestyle, and shopping is rising from an ancillary segment to a primary motivation.

A 'China Haul' trend has recently emerged on overseas social media, with travelers to China posting after returning home about tech products, guochao clothing, beauty products and traditional Chinese medicine wellness items they bought in China, and related videos have received a large number of likes. In the first half of 2026, the number of overseas travelers processing departure tax refunds rose 366% year on year, and the sales value of tax-refunded goods and the refund amount rose 69% year on year. Experts point out that the communication logic has shifted from companies actively promoting overseas to overseas consumers discovering on their own, forming a closed loop of 'experience—purchase—share—repurchase.'