Western business leaders are increasingly visiting factories in China. A surge in foreign scientists and business executives seeking to tour Chinese factories has driven up participation fees and ticket prices, according to a commentary by the state-run Global Times on September 4. Citing a Reuters report, the Global Times noted that applications for a five-day factory tour program, with fees reaching as high as $15,000, have surged.
The free tours of the Xiaomi Motors factory in Beijing are allocated through a lottery system, with resale tickets reportedly trading for as much as $300 (approximately 420,000 won) on second-hand platforms. The Global Times reported that the Beijing Xiaomi Motors factory produces a completed vehicle every 76 seconds, and since opening, it has welcomed over 250,000 visitors from more than 70 countries. There was even a case where 10,000 people applied for just 20 spots on the tour list.
The Xi'an factory of Geely Automobile boasts a 100% automation rate in key processes such as pressing, welding, and painting, with a new car rolling off the line every minute. Demonstrations of humanoid robots in Hangzhou have become a staple in the itineraries of visiting heads of state. Organizers of the tours stated, "Companies from various countries are competing with Chinese firms in the global market and are participating in on-site visits to witness the realities of China."
According to the Global Times, one tour organizer indicated that about half of the participants are from Southeast Asia, and since late 2025, several delegations from European companies have also begun to visit. In Shenzhen, the number of foreign tourists entering the city increased by 70% last year, and by August 4 of this year, over 5 million foreign entries and exits through the Shenzhen customs area had been recorded. An anonymous U.S. manufacturing consultant noted that on-site workers are largely unconcerned about the political climate, and American robotics companies continue to purchase Chinese components in large quantities.
The Global Times reported that the number of foreign tourists visiting China reached 35.17 million in 2025, a 30.6% increase compared to the previous year, and bookings for "factory tour" travel packages this summer have surged more than ninefold compared to the same period last year. The Chinese government is also promoting industrial tourism. In May, seven ministries, including the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, jointly announced measures to support the development of industrial tourism. Currently, China allows visa-free entry for citizens from 50 countries.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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