Buy · Guide
What should you buy in China?
What is worth the suitcase space — and where to buy it without paying for fakes.
No. 1 · Tea & skincare
The things most worth buying in China are tea, domestic skincare brands, silk, designer toys such as Pop Mart, phone and electronics accessories, and packaged snacks. Prices are often lower than abroad, and quality has improved fast. Buy from brand stores or official flagship shops to avoid fakes. Prices are illustrative.
| Best souvenir | Tea 茶叶 |
|---|---|
| Trending | Chinese skincare 国货护肤 |
| Where | Brand stores, malls, official flagships |
| Tax refund | Available at participating stores |
The list
Prices are what you pay in China. Online prices abroad will be higher.
- 1
Manki Kim / Unsplash Tea 茶叶
Longjing, Tieguanyin, Pu’er.
— - 2
Nataliya Melnychuk / Unsplash Chinese skincare 国货护肤
Domestic brands are fast-growing.
— - 3
Silk 丝绸
Scarves and pillowcases travel well.
— - 4
Designer toys 潮玩
Blind boxes and Labubu.
— - 5
Phone accessories 数码配件
Chargers, cables and power banks.
—
Order and prices are illustrative until our data pipeline is live. “↗” links are affiliate links; they never change the order.
How this list is made
There is no official national ranking. We combine three signals, normalise each, and weight them.
Baidu, GoogleSocial 35%
Xiaohongshu, DouyinSales 25%
Tmall, JD
Before you pack it home
Sealed, shelf-stable items travel best. Many countries restrict meat products. Check your home country’s customs rules.
How do I avoid fakes?
Buy at brand stores, department stores and official flagship shops on Tmall or JD rather than tourist markets.
Questions readers ask
Can tourists get a tax refund in China?
Yes, at participating departure-tax-refund stores, for eligible purchases above a minimum amount.
Is it cheaper to buy electronics in China?
Domestic brands and accessories often are; global brands are similar to prices abroad.
Sources
- State Taxation Administration, departure tax refund · accessed 19 Oct 2026
Update log. 19 October 2026 — reviewed. Next review due 17 January 2027. Suggest a correction
Newsletter · Free · Every Thursday
The China Brief
This list changes as tastes do. Get the new order in your inbox.