China's high-tech boom has led to a surge in 'technology tourism,' offering experiences such as riding in cutting-edge robotaxis and factory tours.
For a long time, ambitious technology investors and startup founders have visited Silicon Valley in the United States to see cutting-edge technology firsthand. However, in recent years, China's high-tech boom has led to a surge in 'technology tourism' with destinations such as Shanghai and Shenzhen, according to overseas media outlet Rest of World.
China's AI and EV rise has fueled a new kind of tourism - Rest of World
In recent years, we've seen an increasing number of videos on social media and video-sharing sites showing Chinese-made robots dancing and Chinese-made flying cars actually taking to the skies. Furthermore, Chinese-made electric vehicles and AI are gaining global popularity, making China a force to be reckoned with in the high-tech sector. Amidst this, some investors and entrepreneurs are reportedly beginning to participate in 'technology tourism,' visiting Chinese high-tech companies to explore new investment opportunities and innovations.
Xiaoyu Yuan, an international relations scholar at New York University, points out that 'the trend of technology tourism in China is driven by a desire not to be left behind. There is a feeling that China's technology ecosystem has reached a high level, and if you don't see it firsthand, you will be at an informational disadvantage compared to competitors who have already seen it.'
Technology tours in China are advertised under names such as ' Shanghai AI & Robot Innovation Tour ' and ' EV Battery In-Depth Exploration Tour ,' with prices reaching up to $9,000 (approximately 1.43 million yen). Typically lasting 3 to 5 days, participants visit factories, startup support organizations, and industry conferences, and in some cases, they can also participate in individual Q&A sessions with executives. While airfare is not included in the price, hotels, meals, and local transportation are.
These tours will introduce you to a group of companies that represent China's high-tech boom, including BYD, an EV manufacturer that has overtaken Tesla in global EV sales; Unitree Robotics, whose humanoid robots have attracted attention on the internet; and DeepSeek, an AI development company that is being compared to ChatGPT.
Chetan Shah, an investor based in Mumbai, India, who has participated in numerous technology tours in China, said, 'To be honest, it's a bit pricey. But you get access to things that money can't buy. You can visit BYD as a tourist, but you can't get past the showroom.' In fact, Shah said that seeing the manufacturing capabilities of Chinese manufacturers up close made him realize that Indian counterparts couldn't compete, and he significantly changed his investment portfolio.
Boyang Shen, who runs technology tours in China, moved to Shanghai in 2023 after working as a business consultant in Europe for 10 years. Initially, he intended to start a market research and consulting firm, but he realized the potential of technology tours when two clients asked him to plan custom tours about electric vehicles and live commerce companies.
A year later, Shen applied for a tourism license and now runs a travel agency called GloPen in Shanghai, having welcomed more than 1,000 tourists in 18 months. According to Shen, most of his customers are from Southeast Asia, India, and Europe, with a significant number also coming from the United States and Brazil. Shen told Rest of World, 'There are many competitors in the consulting industry, but there is still a void in the market for providing inclusive and immersive experiences.'
Tech Buzz China, a research and analysis company, is organizing technology tours for high school students with science, engineering, and mathematics backgrounds. Most of the participants who have signed up so far are from the United States, with the remainder mainly from Singapore and India. The tour also includes programs where interns from Chinese AI companies and young students majoring in robotics interact with parents and children.
In addition, technology tours that are easily accessible to the general public are also available. If you actually search for 'tech tour' on the travel platform TripAdvisor, you will see suggestions with destinations such as Shenzhen and Guangzhou.
The most popular tour, '
The recent surge in technology tours aligns with the Chinese government's desire to promote China as a technological powerhouse, drawing attention from governments worldwide to China's technology industry. In February 2026, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz visited Unitree Robotics , while prime ministers from Spain and Vietnam also held discussions with executives from Chinese technology companies.
Yuan said, 'When someone sees Chinese technology-related content on TikTok or YouTube, it sparks their curiosity. That curiosity leads them to take a tour and experience it firsthand, which is then shared online and reaches new viewers, further increasing their curiosity. This whole process reinforces the perception that China is a real, perhaps leading, technology power. Whether that perception is accurate or exaggerated is another matter, but the mechanisms that create it are real and accelerating.'
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