For stock investors, analyst reports matter for their authority, professionalism, timeliness and comprehensiveness, helping uncover potential thematic opportunities. (Source: Xinhua News Agency) Xinhua News Agency, Shenzhen, October 2 — Empty-handed arrivals, full suitcases: the AI glasses boom offers a glimpse of a "future-flavored" Shenzhen. Xinhua reporters Wang Feng and Yang Shenshen.
"Wearing AI glasses, I can record video directly during a conversation, and the translated audio can be sent straight into my ears." At Huaqiangbei in Shenzhen, South African visitor Jan-Willem Hattingh tried on several pairs of AI glasses and was full of praise. Foreign tourists shop for AI sports camera glasses at the INNO100 global innovation flagship store in Shenzhen (photo taken on August 3). Xinhua reporter Liang Xu, photo.
Huaqiangbei is known as "China's No. 1 Electronics Street," home to more than 115,000 business entities, 35 specialized markets, and over a million types of electronic components and consumer electronic products. From January to July 2026, total sales of AI products across all categories in Huaqiangbei rose more than 55% year on year, with AI glasses sales doubling. The experience of Jan-Willem Hattingh is a vivid microcosm of the current "tech shopping spree" by foreign tourists in Huaqiangbei.
In recent days, foreign tourists have been seen in a steady stream across Huaqiangbei's core commercial district. Brian Lamothe-Aris from the United States came here to pick out wireless earphones and various smart devices: "I'm especially interested in the electric bicycles and all kinds of flying devices here. When I go back, I'll tell my friends to come here quickly! Tech products are everywhere!" On May 22, 2026, at the 22nd ICIF held in Shenzhen, people experience AI glasses at the Qianwen AI glasses booth. Xinhua reporter Mao Siqian, photo.
Merchant Xiao Wenlong told reporters that the number of foreign tourists has risen sharply this year. "For them, Huaqiangbei products offer extremely good value for money. They usually come with the whole family to buy products, and many 'arrive empty-handed and leave with full suitcases.'" Data shows that since the start of this year, an average of nearly 8,000 foreign businesspeople have come to Huaqiangbei to make purchases each day. Among the many tech products, AI glasses with multilingual real-time translation functions stand out in particular.
The AI glasses launched by Shenzhen Liweike Technology support two-way simultaneous translation in 128 languages, and translation accuracy for some minority languages can reach over 98%, making them very convenient for foreign cooperation, foreign trade negotiations and more. Bao Chen, channel sales director of Liweike Technology, introduced that the company is also increasing investment in cultural tourism scenarios and has carried out AI editing cooperation with more than 1,800 scenic spots and over 40 leading museums in China. In the future, it will also launch a new "memory glasses."
"When smart glasses truly enter our lives and can carry our daily schedules, then they are no longer just one of our tools, but become our personal assistant," Bao Chen said. Shenzhen's ability to become a global highland for the AI glasses industry benefits from its complete industrial chain advantages. Shenzhen has more than 40 years of accumulated eyewear industry heritage, and in the AI glasses field, upstream and downstream enterprises covering core segments such as brands, optics and displays have already emerged.
"In Shenzhen, if you raise a revision suggestion in the morning, you may be able to get a sample in the afternoon," sighed the head of an AI glasses company. Shenzhen's AI glasses industry chain covers districts including Nanshan, Bao'an and Longgang, forming a complete closed loop. Among them, Longgang produces more than 125 million pairs of glasses annually; Nanshan mainly gathers artificial intelligence companies such as Tencent and RayNeo; Bao'an has a solid industrial foundation in fields such as acoustics and displays, with supporting manufacturers including Luxshare Precision and Pengding Holdings.
The rapid development of the industry cannot be separated from precise policy support. The Shenzhen Action Plan for Accelerating the Development of the Artificial Intelligence Terminal Industry (2025-2026) proposes launching a series of benchmark artificial intelligence products in segmented tracks such as smart glasses, smart watches and smart earphones, focusing on specific scenarios and market demand, and rolling out cost-effective artificial intelligence wearable devices. At present, Shenzhen has already released the first AI glasses industry standard. The Shenzhen AI Glasses Industry Alliance, together with the CTTL Terminal Labs of the China Academy of Information and Communications Technology and more than 20 industry chain enterprises such as Rokid, Qianwen and RayNeo, is advancing the formulation of a series of AI glasses standards in stages and plans to take the lead in releasing group standards nationwide.
Data from the latest "2026-2027 China AI Glasses Industry Trend White Paper" released by iiMedia Research shows that the global smart glasses market was worth US$12.58 billion in 2025 and is expected to reach US$138.73 billion by 2029, indicating strong market potential. Today, Shenzhen's technological innovation achievements are welcoming a broader stage for display. From AI glasses in Huaqiangbei to DJI drones, from "Pony.ai" driverless ride-hailing cars to robot 6S stores, foreign tourists' "tech tours" have extended from science museums to research parks, smart factories and even streets and alleys. On May 2, crowds flowed through Shenzhen Huaqiang Electronics World. Xinhua reporter Mao Siqian, photo.
On overseas social media, many netizens regard Shenzhen as "one of the most futuristic cities in the world." So far in 2026, the number of foreign nationals entering and exiting through Shenzhen port checkpoints has exceeded 5 million. Malaysian tourist Yan Yawen said: "I came here just to visit the future."