An enamel spittoon repurposed as a champagne bucket, a popular hemorrhoid ointment listed at a steep markup overseas, and herbal syrups repeatedly recommended on social media—these are among the unexpected items on tourists' "China haul" shopping lists.
Online, "China haul" refers to traveling to China to stock up on everyday goods—inexpensive locally, but novelty "must-buys" once they circulate on international platforms. In Chinese, some netizens joke about it as “Zhongguohao (中国薅)”, a pun on "haul" playfully implying value-for-money shopping.
One viral example is enamelware resembling the classic spittoon, now marketed abroad as retro homeware—sometimes even as an ice bucket for champagne. On overseas e-commerce sites, similar products can be priced many times higher than their domestic equivalents, with availability fluctuating as online attention rises.
Pharmacy items are another staple. Products such as Mayinglong hemorrhoid ointment and Nin Jiom Pei Pa Koa have been widely shared in travel recommendation threads, with overseas sellers listing them at premium prices. In online discussions, everyday remedies are framed in exaggerated terms—less as medicines with specific indications and more as "secret" wellness finds—raising curiosity about proper use.
The trend has also been boosted by the rebound in inbound travel. According to the National Immigration Administration, China received 22.9 million foreign visitors in the first half of 2026, up 20.4 percent year on year, with nearly 78 percent entering visa-free under expanded visa-waiver schemes. According to the State Taxation Administration, tax-refund claims also surged, with refund-related sales and refund amounts both rising sharply.
For some overseas consumers, "Made in China" has long been associated with affordability. The "China haul" phenomenon points to something more nuanced: shoppers are paying for perceived practicality, design, and shareable novelty—turning ordinary items into content, content into demand.
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