As China’s ever-expanding visa-free policy sparks a wave of travel and shopping among foreign visitors, more and more travelers are exchanging tips on visiting China on international social media platforms, with one standout piece of advice being "Be sure to bring an empty suitcase!"
Shenzhen city in south China’s Guangdong Province, as one of the country’s most dynamic and innovative metropolises, has emerged as a hot destination for international visitors looking for a travel experience in China that combines sightseeing with shopping—especially for cutting-edge tech gadgets.
Foreign travelers shop at Huaqiangbei, an electronics market located in Shenzhen city, south China’s Guangdong Province. (Shenzhen Evening News/Ye Yangte)
At Shenzhen Bao’an International Airport, many outbound travelers are seen hauling bags stuffed with Chinese products.
Among the most sought-after items are drones, tablets, smart glasses powered by artificial intelligence (AI), and most notably, portable AI translators.
These handheld devices allow users to translate between multiple languages and Chinese in real time—even offline—making it easier for tourists to shop and bargain in local markets.
One major beneficiary of this shopping boom is Shenzhen’s Huaqiangbei, one of the world’s largest electronics markets.
As a popular stop on the itineraries of international tourists, Huaqiangbei has seen an increase of more than 50 percent in the number of foreign visitors since the beginning of 2025. It now welcomes more than 7,000 foreign visitors each day.
Shopping in Huaqiangbei is a streamlined experience: goods can be purchased upstairs and shipped downstairs, with services such as currency exchange, tax refunds, and international logistics all readily available.
In some cases, tax refunds give tourists the equivalent of a 10-percent discount.
A salesclerk at a local drone store said they are selling around 50 drones weekly—half of them to foreign buyers.
To accommodate the surge in foreign visitors, Huaqiangbei has set up a dedicated team of volunteers.
One foreign volunteer of this team, Andy, emphasized that Huaqiangbei’s appeal to international visitors goes far beyond just affordable prices.
The diversity of goods in Huaqiangbei is amazing, according to Andy, who explained that the famous electronics hub offers goods of all prices.
China has been making continued efforts to expand its visa-free policy and enhance the accessibility and appeal of inbound tourism.
Starting June 1, 2025, China began implementing a trial policy granting unilateral visa-free entry to citizens holding ordinary passports from Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Peru and Uruguay.
Nationals from these countries can now enter China without a visa for up to 30 days for business, tourism, visiting family and friends, cultural exchanges, and transit.
This marks the first time China has offered visa-free access to countries in the Latin America and Caribbean region, bringing the total number of countries eligible for unilateral visa-free entry to 43.
原文地址：http://en.people.cn/n3/2025/0610/c98649-20325438.html