"Seeing It With Their Own Eyes": Foreigners Flock to Chinese Factory Tours Despite $15,000 Price Tag

Surge in Tech Company Tours for Foreigners
Five-Day Programs Cost Up to 20 Million Won

As more foreign investors and businesspeople seek to witness China's cutting-edge technology up close—ranging from artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics to electric vehicles—expensive industrial tour programs are gaining popularity.

Xiaomi Automobile Factory. Beijing Municipal Foreign Affairs Office

According to foreign news outlets on September 3 (local time), China is attracting a new wave of international visitors with its humanoid robots working in factories, world-class competitive AI models, and electric vehicle plants capable of rapid car production.

This surge in visits is seen as a reflection of concerns in the West over the so-called "China Shock 2.0," with the perception that Chinese companies could seize leadership in advanced manufacturing and high-tech sectors.

Robert Wu, CEO of Shanghai-based data research firm Byguan, said, "People now view China as something that must be studied and learned from—a phenomenon that was almost nonexistent just a few years ago."

CEO Wu has organized two tours so far, each with over 20 participants including investors, entrepreneurs, and corporate executives. The cost of the five-day program reaches up to $15,000 (about 20 million won).

While specific statistics on technical company tours are limited, China's industrial tourism market is experiencing rapid growth. According to Chinese state media, the market generated $17.8 billion (about 24 trillion won) in revenue last year. By 2029, the market is expected to surpass 300 billion yuan (about 61 trillion won).

Major tour destinations include Beijing, Shenzhen, Shanghai, Hangzhou, and Hefei, which are regarded as key hubs leading China’s electric vehicle, battery, AI, and robotics industries.

The Chinese government is also actively promoting industrial tourism. Authorities have announced plans for major expansion, designating over 140 official pilot zones. An increasing number of companies now offer factory tours to the general public for about $60 (around 80,000 won).

Since March 2024, more than 250,000 visitors have toured the Xiaomi electric vehicle factory. Due to overwhelming demand, places for these tours—allocated by lottery—are sometimes sold through scalpers online for up to 2,000 yuan (about 400,000 won).

On this subject, China's state-run Global Times claimed, "That foreign businesspeople are willing to pay substantial sums for cross-border tours demonstrates that there are irreplaceable opportunities to directly observe manufacturing methods showcased in Chinese factories."

The article further evaluated that "the essence of this 'tour boom' is not a so-called threat but rather an opportunity for cooperation," emphasizing that "experiencing China’s technological prowess firsthand is becoming an important channel for foreign investors to better understand China and discover future opportunities."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.