Tourists line up for departure tax refunds at Beijing Capital International Airport. CHINA DAILY

Chinese-made drones, smartphones, action cameras and designer toys are increasingly replacing tea, porcelain and panda-themed gifts on foreign tourists' shopping lists in China, as they increasingly seek innovative, higher-value products offering strong value for money, advanced features and models often unavailable abroad, according to customs authorities across the country.

Bolstered by the "Shopping in China" campaign and the growing popularity of the "China Travel" trend, customs authorities in major cities have reported sharp increases in departure tax refund transactions during the first five months, and expect the momentum to continue throughout the year.

Customs officials at Nanjing Lukou International Airport in Jiangsu province verified 1,171 departure tax refund applications during the January-May period, covering tax-refundable goods worth 26.67 million yuan ($3.94 million), up 173.6 percent and 32.42 percent year-on-year, respectively, said Nanjing Customs.

Zhang Qian, a customs official at the airport, said that as departure tax refund transactions continue to rise, new trends are emerging in shopping preferences of foreign visitors.

"Chinese-made smart electronic products and trendy domestic cultural and creative goods have become increasingly popular among foreign travelers, attracting growing interest with their quality, innovation and distinctive Chinese appeal," said Zhang.

Hong Yang, another customs official at Ningbo Customs' airport branch in Zhejiang province shared similar views.

"Fashion apparel, beauty products and premium lifestyle goods are also gaining traction among foreign travelers departing from Ningbo," she said.

Guan Lixin, a researcher specializing in marketing and consumption at the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation in Beijing, said the shift in foreign visitors' purchasing patterns reflects how Chinese brands are moving up the value chain and gaining recognition among consumers worldwide. Many products also offer better value and a wider selection of models than those available overseas.

Guan said the trend also highlights the growing appeal of shopping as part of the travel experience in China, with foreign visitors seeking unique products that combine practical value, cultural elements and memorable experiences.

To further enhance the shopping experience for foreign visitors, the Shanghai municipal government recently rolled out a new departure tax refund program, introducing new measures such as upgraded end-to-end digital tax refund services and improved digital verification services at ports of departure.

Shanghai Customs processed 201,000 departure tax refund verification forms between January and May, with refund-eligible purchases totaling 1.92 billion yuan, up 300 percent and 62 percent year-on-year, respectively, underscoring the growing popularity of tax-free shopping among foreign visitors.

In the Chinese capital, Beijing Customs verified 87,906 departure tax refund applications during the first five months, involving refund-eligible purchases worth 758 million yuan, up 612.42 percent and 53.13 percent year-on-year, respectively.

In a further move to encourage spending by international travelers, the Ministry of Commerce and several other government departments unveiled a new departure tax refund program in May aimed at optimizing departure tax refund services and expanding inbound consumption.

The policy package includes broader coverage of departure tax refund stores, paperless processing, enhanced refund-upon-purchase services and more efficient verification procedures.

The measures will make refund-upon-purchase services more convenient by enabling travelers to complete tax refund procedures at any eligible port of departure, said Yang Mu, director of the department of market operation and consumption promotion at the Ministry of Commerce.