120 million Chinese mainlanders are expected to spend 194 billion U.S. dollars during their trips abroad in 2015. Data show that China has the highest number of outbound tourists – and with supreme buying power – for three consecutive years.

In the past, Chinese tourists tended to buy high-end products which were sold at much cheaper prices in foreign countries. In recent years, these tourists snap up facial masks, toothpastes and other articles of everyday use.

Experts believe that there are two reasons behind the continuous outflow of money into high-end foreign products. For one thing, these products are sold at much higher prices within China. For another, China's high-end retailers and sophisticated manufacturing industry are not prepared for the challenge of ‘consumption upgrades’.

Experts suggest that in order to get ready for the challenge of consumption upgrades, China should adjust tax policies, increase imports of what Chinese people want most and offer more purchasing choices for Chinese consumers.

China should open more duty-free stores in major business cities where many outbound tourists live and allow tourists to buy commodities there instead of buying them abroad according to Zhao Ping, who works at the academy affiliated to the Chinese Ministry of Commerce.