Things to Buy in China: What's Actually Cheaper Than at Home?

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Things to Buy in China: What's Actually Cheaper Than at Home?

If you're shopping from Britain, most of this page is a yes. On 11 September 2026 an iPhone 17 cost 21% more at home than in China, Nike Air Force 1s 26% more, a DJI Osmo Pocket 3 17% more and a Songmont Luna bag 65% more. Readers in Singapore and Australia save on much the same list. American readers mostly don't: for them it's DJI and Chinese brands only.

Looking for handmade keepsakes such as tea, jade, silk or porcelain? Those are in our souvenirs guide. This page is about what is worth buying because it is better value in China, and about what isn't.

The honest answer depends on where you live, and Britain is where that answer is "yes" most often. The same pair of trainers is 26% cheaper in China for a British reader and costs about the same for an American one. At LyrikTrip we compared official prices in China with the same brands' official prices in four countries on a single day, so every "cheaper" below comes with a number and a date.

Key Takeaways

• British shoppers have the strongest case of any market we checked. iPhones, Nike trainers, DJI cameras and Chinese brands are all cheaper in China for a UK reader. Singapore and Australia come close. US readers mostly don't save, because American prices are shown before sales tax and are already low.
• DJI is the one international-market product that is cheaper in China everywhere: 7% (Singapore) to 24% (US), and 17% for a UK buyer.
• The biggest savings are on Chinese brands. Songmont bags cost 28–66% more on the brand's own overseas sites, and 65–66% more on the UK one. To Summer fragrance isn't officially sold abroad at all.
• Never buy a power bank without the CCC mark, because you can't fly with it inside China. And skip the iPhone if you're American: it's 10% cheaper at home before tax.
• Beijing now bans visitors from bringing drones into the city (since 1 May 2026). If Beijing is on your route, don't buy a drone before you get there.
• Prices checked: 11 September 2026. Prices change, and we re-check them regularly.

Who's shopping? Find your list

What to buy in China: the quick answer by country

For a British reader, the best things to buy in China are an iPhone, Nike trainers, a DJI camera and anything by a Chinese brand — all four are dearer at home. Here is the same product at official prices in five markets. The percentage shows how much more it costs at home than in China. A positive number means China is cheaper for you.

Prices checked: 11 September 2026. All prices are from official brand stores. Conversions use China's official central parity rate on the same morning (US$1 = ¥6.7743).

| Product | China | 🇺🇸 USA | 🇬🇧 UK | 🇸🇬 Singapore | 🇦🇺 Australia | |—|–:|–:|–:|–:|–:| | DJI Osmo Pocket 3 (standard) | ¥2,399 | US$439 · +24% | £309 · +17% | US$379 · +7% | A$599 · +21% | | iPhone 17, 256 GB | ¥6,799 | US$899 · −10% | £899 · +21% | S$1,449 · +13% | A$1,549 · +10% | | Nike Air Force 1 '07 (CW2288-111) | ¥799 | US$115 · −3% | £109.99 · +26% | S$165 · +10% | A$180 · +9% | | Songmont Luna bag | ¥1,880 | US$389 · +40% | £340 · +65% | S$453 · +28% | A$499 · +28% | | Songmont Song bag, medium | ¥1,980 | US$429 · +47% | £360 · +66% | S$500 · +34% | A$550 · +34% |

UK, Singapore and Australian prices include tax, as do the Chinese ones; US prices exclude sales tax, and adding it still doesn't make the iPhone or the Nikes cheaper in China for an American reader.

Is it worth the suitcase space? The LyrikTrip Suitcase Test

Cheaper isn't the same as worth buying. Before anything goes in your bag, run it through four questions. If an item fails any one of them, leave it on the shelf.

Pass all four and it's a Buy. Pass three and it's a Maybe, so know which gate is the risk. Pass two or fewer and it's a Skip.

Electronics: is DJI cheaper in China?

Yes. DJI is cheaper in China than in any of the four markets we checked, Britain included. The Osmo Pocket 3 is ¥2,399 at DJI's official China store, against £309 in the UK, US$439 in the US, US$379 in Singapore and A$599 in Australia. Buy it at an official DJI store or DJI's official online store and you pay that price without bargaining.

Before you buy, check two things:

• Warranty region. Ask the store whether your unit is covered in your home country, and keep the receipt.
• Drones and Beijing. Under Beijing's regulations on unmanned aircraft, in force since 1 May 2026, drones and their core parts may not be carried into the city. Beijing police have said this covers visitors arriving by train, plane or car, and people passing through. All outdoor flights in Beijing need prior approval, and drones can't be sold there. If your trip ends in Beijing, buy the drone at an earlier stop only if you can ship it home, or buy it on your last leg elsewhere. Handheld cameras like the Osmo Pocket are not drones and aren't affected.

Power banks are a rules question, not a price question. Since 28 June 2025, the Civil Aviation Administration of China has banned power banks without the CCC ("3C") certification mark on domestic flights. Families buy more power banks than anyone, so check for the mark on the casing before you pay.

For a whole day of gadgets, Shenzhen's electronics district is the place to go. Our Huaqiangbei guide explains when to buy from an official store and when a market stall is fine. It also covers getting there from Hong Kong.

Is the iPhone cheaper in China?

For British readers, yes, and by the widest margin of any market: 21%. An iPhone 17 with 256 GB is ¥6,799 at Apple China against £899 at Apple UK. Singapore (S$1,449) and Australia (A$1,549) save 13% and 10%. American readers are the exception: at US$899 the US price is 10% lower before tax, so there's nothing to gain.

If you're buying one outside the US, check two things on Apple's site for your home country first. The first is whether the mainland model's SIM and eSIM setup works with your network. The second is how warranty service works where you live. Even a 21% saving isn't worth a phone that won't take your home eSIM.

Sportswear and everyday clothes: are they cheaper in China?

For British readers, noticeably: 26% on the one shoe we priced properly. Nike's Air Force 1 '07 (CW2288-111) is ¥799 in China and £109.99 in the UK. Singapore (S$165) and Australia (A$180) save around 10% and 9%. In the US the same shoe is US$115, which is about the same, so American readers gain nothing.

• Uniqlo basics look much cheaper in China. But the China price we found was a time-limited offer on a newer item code, so we don't quote a percentage. Compare the item code on the tag with your home website before you buy.
• adidas prices abroad are £95, US$100, S$159 and A$180 for the Samba OG. We couldn't capture the China list price on the day we checked, so we make no claim.
• Li-Ning and Anta, China's own sportswear giants, have stores in almost every Chinese city, including children's lines. That makes them a practical stop for families replacing outgrown shoes mid-trip.

Sizes run differently in China, so try shoes on rather than ordering blind.

Chinese brands worth buying here

Chinese brands are where the real savings are, for readers from every country. Many of them are either much more expensive abroad or not officially sold there at all. This is the one category where even American readers come out clearly ahead.

Songmont's stores are only in mainland China, so Shanghai and Beijing are where you can see the bags before buying. Our guide to Chinese brands and their Shanghai stores has every store address, a side-by-side with Polène and Mansur Gavriel, and a half-day route.

Glasses and contact lenses: should you get them made in China?

For many travellers, yes. Prescription glasses are one of the most-asked-about purchases on China travel forums, and big cities have dedicated optical markets and chain opticians that can make a pair quickly. Typical turnaround is same day to a few days, depending on the lens. Verify it at the counter before you commit.

The process is simple. You have an eye test in store (or bring your prescription), choose a frame, choose lenses, and collect. Go to a dedicated optical market or a chain optician, not a general tourist market. Get the quote in writing, with the lens type and coating, before they start. Schedule it early in your trip so there's time for an adjustment.

Tailoring: can you get a suit or qipao made in China?

Yes, and it's a good use of a Shanghai stop, as long as you plan for at least two fittings. Have your measurements taken on your first day and collect on your last. Prices vary widely from stall to stall, so compare two or three tailors before choosing.

Our Shanghai tailor guide covers the South Bund Fabric Market, lead times, and what to do if you're leaving Shanghai before collection. For a qipao, see our qipao buying guide.

Tea from fixed-price heritage stores

If you're buying tea as a gift, go to a long-established tea house with marked prices, not a street stall. In Beijing, names such as Zhang Yiyuan and Wuyutai have sold tea for generations and price it on the tin, including in tourist areas. Tenfu is a national chain that does the same. You won't get a bargain, but you won't get tricked either.

Tea is also light and packs flat, which makes it one of the best suitcase buys for parents and grandparents. For grades, regions and prices, read our guide to buying Chinese tea.

Pharmacy staples: traditional Chinese medicine

Heritage pharmacies such as Tongrentang are worth a visit, but check your home country's rules before you bring herbal products back. Many travellers buy balms and packaged remedies for older relatives. Some countries restrict animal-derived ingredients and certain herbs. Keep products in their original, labelled packaging and declare them if your home customs asks.

Food to take home: what can you bring back?

Sealed, shelf-stable snacks and tea are usually fine. Fresh meat, dairy and fruit usually aren't. Rules are set by the country you're flying into, not by China, so check before you pack.

- Good choices are vacuum-packed snacks, boxed pastries with long shelf lives, tea, and White Rabbit sweets. That last one is China's classic milk candy, and your family will either love it or wonder why you bothered. - Avoid fresh fruit, meat products (including vacuum-packed sausages), and dairy that isn't in sealed retail packaging.

Our guide to customs allowances when leaving China covers alcohol, tobacco and cash limits.

What NOT to buy in China

Skip anything where the saving disappears once you count tax, warranty or the trip home.

How to buy: order to your hotel and add a suitcase

The easiest way to shop in China is often not a shop at all. You order online and have it delivered to your hotel. Travellers regularly use Taobao and JD for goods, and Meituan for fast local delivery. Many hotels take in parcels at the front desk.

1. Set up payment first. Alipay and WeChat Pay both let you link a foreign card. Our guide to paying in China walks you through it. 2. Order from the brand's official store on Taobao (Tmall) or JD. This is the simplest way to avoid fakes. 3. Use your hotel's Chinese address exactly as written on the booking. Add your name and room number. Let reception know a parcel is coming. 4. For same-day items, such as a charger, sun cream or snacks, Meituan delivers within hours in most cities. 5. Bought too much? Buy an extra suitcase locally rather than paying excess baggage on a bursting bag. Families do this more than anyone.

Can you get a tax refund on shopping in China?

Yes, if you shop at a participating store. Since April 2025, a notice from the Ministry of Commerce and five other departments set the minimum at ¥200 spent. That is per participating store, per day. It also raised the cash refund limit to ¥20,000, and it extended "refund upon purchase" nationwide, which lets you receive the refund at the till in some stores. Last verified: September 2026.

Ask for the tax-refund form when you pay, keep the goods unused, and have them with you at the airport's refund counter when you leave China. Leave extra time at the airport. For what's worth buying once you're through security, see whether China's airport duty-free is worth it.

City cheat-sheet: what each city does best

Want something handmade instead?

If what you really want is a keepsake, such as tea, jade, silk, porcelain or a name chop, our souvenirs guide covers 15 of them with prices and how to spot the real thing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are things cheaper in China?

For British readers, often yes. On 11 September 2026, iPhones, Nike trainers, DJI cameras and Chinese brands such as Songmont were all cheaper in China than in the UK. Singapore and Australian readers save on the same list. For American readers only DJI and Chinese brands came out ahead.

Is Apple cheaper in China?

For British buyers, yes, by 21%: an iPhone 17 (256 GB) was ¥6,799 in China against £899 in the UK on 11 September 2026. Singapore and Australian buyers save 10–13%. For US buyers, no — the US price was about 10% lower before sales tax. Check SIM, eSIM and warranty compatibility before buying abroad.

Is Nike cheaper in China?

It is for UK readers. The Air Force 1 '07 was ¥799 in China against £109.99 in the UK, about 26% more. Singapore and Australian readers save around 10%. American readers pay roughly the same at home, so Nike isn't worth the suitcase space for them.

Is gold cheaper in China?

Not necessarily. On 11 September 2026, price aggregators listed Chow Tai Fook's per-gram gold price in mainland China at about ¥1,312. In Hong Kong it was about ¥1,143. If Hong Kong is on your route, buy there, and compare per-gram pieces, not fixed-price jewellery.

What should you not buy in China?

Skip iPhones and most international sportswear if you're American, power banks without a CCC mark, drones if you're heading to Beijing, and electronics that need a mainland account. Avoid counterfeits entirely: customs can seize them when you get home, and the saving is lost.

Can I get a tax refund in China?

Yes. Since April 2025, foreign visitors can claim departure tax refund on purchases of ¥200 or more in a participating store on the same day. Ask for the refund form when paying, keep the goods unused, and claim at the airport refund counter when leaving China.

Can foreigners use Taobao?

Yes. Many visitors use Taobao and pay through Alipay linked to a foreign card. Buy from brands' official stores, enter your hotel's address exactly as written in Chinese, and tell reception a parcel is coming. Delivery usually takes a few days, so order early in your stay.

The bottom line

The best things to buy in China depend on your passport, and a British one is among the best to have. iPhones, Nike trainers, DJI cameras and Chinese brands such as Songmont, Florasis and To Summer are all worth the space for a UK traveller, as they largely are for Singaporean and Australian ones. For Americans, only DJI and the Chinese brands make the cut; most international brands aren't worth the luggage space. Run anything you're unsure about through the Suitcase Test, have big buys delivered to your hotel, and claim your tax refund on the way out.

If you'd like shopping built into a private itinerary, with a first-day tailor fitting in Shanghai, an afternoon among Chinese designer brands and time for the tax refund before your flight, that's the kind of trip we plan.