Sebastian Goyon visits a DJI store at APM Mall in Beijing, capital of China, July 2, 2025. (Xinhua/Zheng Keyi)

Local Innovation, Global Appeal

The rising popularity of Chinese tech among foreign consumers underscores the nation's rapid advances in innovation, manufacturing prowess and user-centric design.

"China is leading in both technology and production," Goyon said, while adding that beyond cameras, the performance and affordability of other Chinese tech, such as electric vehicles and smart devices, have also impressed him.

At Beijing's APM Mall, overseas shoppers now account for 30 percent of daily foot traffic -- a surge accelerated by streamlined tax refund policies. "Visitors often find our store through tax guides or maps and place it at the top of their itinerary," said store manager Luo Yao. "Most are independent travelers accustomed to using DJI products to record their journeys."

To serve its global clientele, DJI has streamlined the entire shopping experience, from sales to product use. Staff assist customers with price comparisons and explanations of tax policies and encourage hands-on testing.

In-store demonstrations, notably, often play decisive roles in driving sales. Luo noted that the moment a drone takes off, it attracts crowds, and seeing the flight stability and features firsthand sparks excitement and motivates purchases.

Luo also emphasized that DJI products are engineered with global usability in mind. Apps like DJI Fly support multiple languages and automatically adapt to flight regulations in different countries -- requiring no manual adjustments and enabling a seamless experience.

This trend extends beyond electronics. The eastern Chinese tech hub of Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, is home to both AI startup DeepSeek and humanoid robotics firm Unitree, and recently unveiled ten "sci-tech souvenirs," including AR glasses, sleeping aids and exoskeleton robots.

Selected from more than 80 submissions in the categories of smart hardware, digital content and health tech since April, these products showcase breakthroughs achieved by local tech enterprises, according to Zhang Feng, secretary-general of the Digital Culture & Tourism (Hangzhou) Alliance.

Many of the entries integrate large-scale AI models and intelligent technologies developed by Hangzhou-based companies, blending innovation seamlessly into daily life, said Zhang.

Standouts include AIGC-customized scarves from Chinese silk producer WENSLI Group. This idea emerged as AI tools like ChatGPT surged in popularity, said Lou Yufeng, executive deputy director of WENSLI Group Office. "Could AI make everyone a designer? Leveraging AIGC technology, we turned that idea into reality."

Notably, at WENSLI's demonstration hall, customers can instantly create one-of-a-kind scarf designs via its mini-program and have their customized pieces produced after placing the order.

Lou told Xinhua that more than ten groups of foreign consumers visit each month to experience the AIGC scarves and make purchases. He noted that consumers from countries like Japan, where silk culture is already well-known and deeply cherished, are particularly impressed by the technological sophistication and cost-effectiveness of Chinese products.

"Beyond traditional souvenirs like Dingsheng cake or silk umbrellas, we hope visitors around the world will take home a piece of Hangzhou's innovative spirit," said an official from the Hangzhou Municipal Culture, Radio, TV and Tourism Bureau.