The “China Haul” (Chinese shopping unboxing) trend has reached the 140th Canton Fair, where foreign buyers are visiting in groups, experiencing products on-site, and placing orders “at the speed of light”—making it one of the most eye-catching phenomena at this year’s Fair.
Notable “China Haul” Moments at the Canton Fair
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Exoskeleton robot receives an emotional order on-site: A British woman with walking difficulties due to a stroke successfully took steps again after trying a Chinese company’s exoskeleton robot at the Canton Fair. Her son placed an order for the product on the spot, saying, “I’ve never seen anything like it in the UK or even Europe.”
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AI innovations win over a Dubai buyer: A large number of AI-powered innovative products were showcased. Dubai buyer Hassan Al Marzooqi praised the robot performances and was eager to purchase a batch to take back home for use in local schools and kindergartens.
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98-year-old “super fan” attends 70th consecutive Canton Fair: Xue Rongxin, a 98-year-old buyer from Singapore, has attended the Canton Fair for 70 consecutive years. After trying dexterous hands, AI toys, and new AI glasses at this year’s Fair, he said, “The Canton Fair is my school—there’s always something new to learn at every session.”
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Massage chairs ordered in bulk after trial: Many overseas buyers queued up to try Chinese-style massage chairs. After enjoying a “Chinese-style massage,” they placed orders for five chairs on the spot. These chairs are priced between $2,000 and $20,000 and are mainly exported to Southeast Asian and Middle Eastern markets.
Official Response and Industry Logic Behind the Trend
On October 16, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning officially responded to the “China Haul” trend, stating that China will continue to open its doors wider and, through two-way exchanges, help more foreign friends understand and fall in love with China.
This trend is no accident: on overseas social media platforms, foreign influencers are arriving in China with empty suitcases, filling them with Chinese-made goods, and sharing unboxing videos after returning home—a phenomenon that has achieved viral spread. During the first four days of the 2026 National Day holiday, inbound tourists’ spending via Alipay increased by nearly 50% year-on-year, and the number of tax refund transactions rose by 88% year-on-year. The average price of goods per tax refund transaction was about 7,000 yuan. From drones and AI glasses to Chinese-style cultural and creative products and traditional Chinese medicine products, the shopping lists of foreign tourists continue to grow.
As a core window for “Cantonese goods going global,” the Canton Fair has precisely captured this wave of global consumer enthusiasm, directly connecting the “Chinese good products” praised by overseas consumers with global procurement demand, and completing the transformation from social media buzz to bulk trade orders.