Foreign Investors and Executives Flock to China for Tech and Industrial Tours

A growing number of foreign investors, entrepreneurs, and executives are traveling to China to visit factories specializing in humanoid robots, AI models, and electric vehicles. These visitors are paying thousands of dollars for access to the country's innovation ecosystem, driven by concerns that Chinese companies are taking the lead in advanced manufacturing and cutting edge technologies, a phenomenon described as China shock 2.0. Robert Wu, CEO of Baiguan, has organized tours costing up to $15,000 for five day programs, noting that about half of his participants come from Southeast Asia. Other agencies, such as GloPen, reported a 50 percent jump in inquiries in 2026, primarily from European and Singaporean clients.

This trend is supported by a broader boom in industrial tourism. State media reports that China's industrial tourism sector earned $17.8 billion last year and is projected to exceed 300 billion yuan by 2029. The Chinese government has designated over 140 official demonstration sites to promote this industry. Some facilities, such as the Xiaomi EV factory, offer public tours for approximately $60. Xiaomi's factory has seen over 250,000 visitors since March 2024, with some lottery tickets being scalped online for up to 2,000 yuan. Xiaomi stated that tickets are non transferable and determined by lottery.

High profile visitors include U.S. investment firms Capital Group, Dimension, and Thrive Capital, as well as podcaster Lex Fridman. World leaders have also visited, including German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who viewed Unitree's humanoid robots. Industry experts like Rui Ma and Alex Shengyun Lu suggest that these visits are essential due diligence for those who will encounter Chinese firms as global competitors. Lu noted a palpable sense of insecurity among European executives who are concerned about falling behind in AI and robotics.