International buyers gather at the EP Yaying showroom during the 2026 Shanghai Fashion Week. [Photo/Shanghai Observer]

A growing number of foreign tourists are adding customized shopping experiences to their Shanghai itineraries, as fast eyewear services, tailored suits and neighborhood-based consumption emerge as new ways to experience the city's commercial vitality.

Shanghai International Eyewear City on Zhongxing Road has become a popular stop for overseas visitors. On TripAdvisor, it ranks among Shanghai's top attractions, following landmarks such as the Bund, Yuyuan Garden and Xintiandi. Many visitors are drawn by the mall's combination of choice, price and speed.

Emily, a visitor from the United Kingdom, said she came to Shanghai partly for customized shopping. After ordering tailored suits at the South Bund Fabric Market in the morning, she and her boyfriend went to the glasses mall in the afternoon and selected three pairs in less than half an hour.

"There are many choices, and the speed is really fast," she said.

The mall's appeal lies both in its affordability and efficiency. Eyewear prices there are generally 30 to 40 percent those of retail prices elsewhere, while ordinary lenses can often be processed within 20 minutes of sale, with optometry data sent to on-site workshops. Some shops can complete more complex customized lenses within one to two hours.

From tailor-made suits to prescription glasses, customized services are becoming part of how foreign visitors plan their time in Shanghai. These experiences combine practical value with local consumption scenes, turning shopping into a more personalized experience for travelers.

The trend reflects Shanghai's recovering inbound tourism and rising consumption appeal. The city received 9.36 million inbound visits last year, up 39.58 percent year-on-year to mark a record high, according to the Shanghai Municipal Administration of Culture and Tourism.