On an independent trip to China, add a supermarket to your itinerary when souvenir shops on tourist streets start to feel repetitive. Hema (Freshippo) often has new baked goods in its chilled dessert cases; in Henan, shoppers visit Pangdonglai for both snacks and private-label household goods; and Sam’s Club is the place for bulk mochi, Swiss rolls, and family-size packs.
You will soon notice that these three are completely different kinds of supermarkets. Hema is common in major cities and excels at fresh food. Pangdonglai is concentrated in Xuchang and Xinxiang, Henan, rather than every tourist city. Sam’s Club requires membership. More importantly, being sold in China does not mean an item belongs in your suitcase to Taiwan, so check storage needs and entry rules while choosing.
A quick guide: visit Hema for freshly baked food; choose Pangdonglai in Henan for private-label goods; consider Sam’s Club if you already have membership and enough people to split large packs. For gifts to Taiwan, prioritize sealed, shelf-stable biscuits, candy, or ordinary dried snacks with full ingredient labels. Do not treat meat, unidentified animal products, or fresh fruit as ordinary souvenirs; first read Taiwan Customs food-entry rules.
Information updated: October 16, 2026.
How do Hema, Pangdonglai, and Sam’s Club differ?
| Supermarket | Best for | Where to start | Know before buying |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hema (Freshippo) | Travelers in major cities such as Shanghai and Beijing who want new desserts and prepared foods | Bakery, chilled desserts, and shelf-stable snacks | Fresh food keeps briefly; stock differs by branch and App |
| Pangdonglai (DL) | Visitors to Xuchang and Xinxiang, Henan, interested in local retail culture and private labels | DL products, juice, biscuits, and bakery | Directly operated lifestyle supermarkets are mainly in Xuchang and Xinxiang; popular items may have online purchase limits |
| Sam’s Club | Members or their companions who want bulk packs to share | Member’s Mark bakery, mochi, biscuits, and snacks | Membership required; confirm valid membership and pack size instead of joining impulsively for one snack |
This is a practical shopping guide, not an official ranking from the three chains. Prices and stock vary by city, branch, season, and promotion, so use the shelf price and current inventory.
1. Hema must-buys: does the Swiss roll deserve first place?
Hema’s long aisles can be overwhelming on a first visit, so begin at the bakery. Its strengths are frequent new releases and desserts suited to eating that day. Chilled desserts, however, are the hardest items to take back to Taiwan.
1. Guizhou matcha Swiss roll: a 2026 release with a local official source
For a 2026 trend, look for the Guizhou matcha Swiss roll. A local report published on the Tongren municipal government website on April 21, 2026 says Hema worked with the local matcha supply chain on a matcha range, and this Swiss roll drew social-media attention. Search the product name in the App, select a branch, and check current stock. Read the Tongren government article
How can you buy it efficiently? Search “贵州抹茶瑞士卷” in the App or store and confirm availability at your branch. Check storage instructions and the use-by date after picking it up. If it is a chilled fresh-cream version, share it with companions that day rather than carrying the whole box for hours. If you dislike matcha bitterness, sample a small dessert instead of buying the largest box for a photo.
2. Classic creamy Swiss rolls: recognize the style, but do not mistake old photos for a new release
Licensed historical photos confirm that Hema sold creamy Swiss rolls, but they were taken in 2024 and do not prove that every branch has the same recipe, size, or price in 2026. Check refrigeration needs, flavors in the box, and serving size. They are easiest to keep in a hotel refrigerator; for a long ride, buy only enough to eat immediately. 2024 product photo and CC0 license
3. Milk-and-salt soda crackers and bagels: one for gifts, one for breakfast
Not everyone wants to carry dessert back to the hotel. Earlier Hema product photos also show milk-and-salt soda crackers and cranberry bagels. Sealed, shelf-stable crackers with full ingredient labels are easier gift candidates. Bagels suit breakfast that day or the next; do not expect bread to survive several days in luggage. These photos only document past products, and current stock must be checked in store. Product photo
The Hema App and store pickup: do not copy outdated instructions
Taiwan’s App Store currently lists “Hema” by Shanghai Heli Network Technical Service Co., Ltd. for checking cities, delivery, and products. If an overseas phone number fails verification or store pickup is unavailable, follow the current interface and ask branch staff when needed. Official Hema App listing
Note that the neighborhood pickup service called Hema Linli announced its closure in 2025. That is separate from pickup options individual branches may provide. If no pickup button appears, do not assume every store follows an online tutorial or uses a 6-digit collection code. Shop in person or ask App support about current services. Closure report
2. Pangdonglai must-buys: do not chase only one viral mooncake
Pangdonglai stands out for its products and distinctive shopping experience, not because everything is cheapest. Finding a store is the main obstacle: its directly operated lifestyle supermarkets center on Xuchang and Xinxiang, Henan. Pangdonglai products found in Shanghai or Shenzhen may be DL private-label goods sold through another retailer, not a local directly operated store. 2026 retail-industry research
1. DL private label: browse snacks, juice, biscuits, and household goods together
Look for “DL” or Pangdonglai private-label signage. Its official JD flagship store groups products into snacks and nuts, juice and drinks, grains and dry goods, paper and cleaning goods, and home products, showing that the label is broader than one viral item. Start with sealed, shelf-stable snacks and drinks that are easy to share. Large juice bottles and laundry detergent may not justify their weight when luggage is limited. Official flagship-store categories
To judge value, check three things: producer and product name, ingredients, and net weight plus shelf life. A DL logo does not mean Pangdonglai manufactured it itself; read contract-manufacturer and licensing details. This is the most useful way to distinguish private labels, retailer exclusives, and regular products.
2. Taro mochi pastry and red-bean salted-yolk pastry: in 2026, how you buy matters
Pangdonglai’s Delicos taro mochi pastry and red-bean salted-yolk pastry are documented in 2026 reports and notices. Because demand was high, from September 11, 2026, these two items temporarily moved from walk-in sales to limited same-city online orders with store pickup. Xuchang’s rules then included a 10 a.m. release, no more than two sets per member account daily, and pickup within designated hours that day. Rules may change, so do not treat September’s limits as permanent year-round policy. Cities and branches may differ. Reposted notice and report | Further local-media verification in September 2026
If making a special trip, check official store notices and the mini program the day before. Without a local account or successful verification, regard it as a treat to buy only if luck allows. Salted egg yolk does not automatically make a pastry eligible for entry into Taiwan; pork floss, ham, and unclear ingredients require particular quarantine checks.
3. Craft beer and specialty drinks: local tasting and taking them home are different
Pangdonglai has private-label drinks and beer, but availability in store does not make bottles suitcase-friendly. Glass is heavy and breakable, and alcohol has separate entry rules. For the experience, buying an amount you can finish locally is usually easier than carrying it to Taiwan. Read the category research
3. Sam’s Club must-buys: bulk packs tempt, but check membership and storage first
Sam’s Club is a membership warehouse owned by Walmart. Downloading the App alone does not grant entry. It shows Member’s Mark private-label products, benefits, and delivery, but you must confirm enrollment, annual fee, companion rules, and entry and checkout verification. Do not gamble on a screenshot of someone else’s membership code. Official Sam’s Club App
1. Sam’s Club Swiss rolls: a classic, but can you finish the whole box?
Walmart China has officially named Swiss rolls, mochi, and bagels as representative Sam’s Club bakery products, making them recommendations supported by a primary brand source. That does not mean every 2026 branch stocks every flavor. Two travelers should check count, portion, refrigeration, and whether companions will share before buying a full box. Walmart China’s official introduction
2. Member’s Mark mochi bread: good for groups, not for steaming in a bag all day
A verifiable product photo shows a 2024 box of Member’s Mark original mochi bread sold at Sam’s Club Xiamen, helping first-time visitors recognize it. For 2026 quantity, recipe, and price, trust the label on the box in hand. Sample it and consider storage before buying; even a bargain is poor value if you cannot finish it within a day or two. Product photo and license
3. Member’s Mark biscuits: more gift-friendly than a large chilled cake
Photos document Sam’s Club private-label biscuits such as sea-salt soda crackers. Travelers benefit because individual packs are easy to share, while the original package lets you verify ingredients and storage. A photo does not guarantee 2026 availability; check brand, flavor, and ingredients in store. Compare the price per 100 grams so an enormous pack does not distort value. Product photo
4. Should White Rabbit collaborations be on the must-buy list?
White Rabbit has many collaborations, so do not assume a social-media image means all three chains stock the same item. There is currently no reliable evidence that Hema, Pangdonglai, and Sam’s Club all regularly sell one new White Rabbit collaboration in 2026. If you find special packaging, check the original White Rabbit brand, collaborator, producer, expiry date, and product type instead of trusting similar colors.
For ordinary packaged milk candy, check ingredients and Taiwan’s entry rules. Fresh milk drinks, ice cream, and chilled desserts are not durable gifts even when co-branded. Do not confuse a reposted concept image with a product available in stores.
5. What travelers can bring back to Taiwan: more important than rankings
Sort your basket simply: food for today on the left, items for Taiwan on the right. A chilled cake eaten locally causes no in-flight storage problem, but meat products do not become ordinary snacks just because they are sealed.
| Product type | Suggested handling | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Shelf-stable ordinary biscuits and candy with full labels | Prioritize them; check ingredients, weight, and quarantine guidance | Easier to store, but not every processed food may enter |
| Fresh-cream Swiss rolls, chilled mille-crepe cakes, and bread | Eat locally first | Perishable and heat-sensitive; ingredients and processing still determine quarantine status |
| Jerky, pork floss, ham, sausage, and meat-filled pastries | Do not bring them to Taiwan as ordinary gifts | Declare under animal-quarantine rules; items without valid documents or eligibility cannot enter, even vacuum-packed |
| Instant noodles or sauces with meat packets | Check actual ingredients and processing; leave them if unsure | Not all noodles are banned or allowed; meat pieces, packets, and high-temperature sterilization differ |
| Fresh fruit, live plants, and fresh plant products | Do not carry them back yourself | Plant-quarantine limits are strict; legal retail sale does not imply entry permission |
| UHT milk, milk powder, cheese, and similar products | Confirm rules for the specific item | Some processed dairy avoids animal quarantine, while fresh and raw milk have other requirements |
| Alcohol and liquid drinks | Consider airline transport, customs limits, and packaging first | Heavy and breakable; general personal-use food exemptions do not automatically apply to alcohol |
Taiwan Customs guidance dated May 27, 2026 clearly says meat and processed meat, including vacuum-packed products, generally require declaration to the animal-quarantine authority. It specifically warns about instant noodles from mainland China containing ham sausage. Illegally carrying pork products from an African swine fever area can draw a NT$200,000 first-offense fine and NT$1,000,000 for a repeat offense. Taipei Customs FAQ, 2026/05/27
Also, personal-use exemption from food inspection and animal or plant quarantine are separate tests. Ordinary personal-use food meeting conditions such as a value under US$1,000 and weight within 6 kilograms may avoid an FDA food-inspection application; that does not legalize meat products. Agricultural, livestock, aquatic, and certain mainland China products have separate quantity limits. FDA guidance | Current Taichung Customs entry guidance
A 30-second pre-checkout check: photograph the complete ingredients, origin, and storage directions. Stop when you see Chinese terms for pork, chicken, pork floss, ham, or sausage. Do not treat fresh fruit, fresh milk, or chilled items as shelf-stable gifts. Ask Taiwan’s quarantine authority if unsure, and declare or discard as officially instructed rather than taking a chance.
6. Mobile QR payment in Chinese supermarkets: setup for Taiwan travelers
Discovering at checkout that Alipay fails is more awkward than missing a Swiss roll. Before departure, download Alipay or WeChat Pay, verify with your own details, and link a supported Taiwan-issued or other overseas card. Make a valid test purchase early so there is time to change methods if card, merchant, or mini-program restrictions arise. Official overseas-card setup | WeChat and Alipay instructions
Prepare in this order:
- Install the App and complete basic identity verification in Taiwan; confirm your payment card works. Some payment or membership functions need more verification.
- Check the branch and opening hours before entering: city and store for Hema, membership status for Sam’s Club, and current pastry limits for Pangdonglai.
- Open the App and find the payment code first. Know whether you scan the shop code or show yours. If it fails, switch mobile data, reopen the App, and ask staff. Never send a QR Code to strangers.
- Check issuer or platform notices after a failed payment. Overseas-card scenarios, transaction verification, or a network outage may be responsible. Carry another legal payment method, not just one card.
- Keep purchase records and package photos for returns and later ingredient or quarantine checks in Taiwan.
7. How much eSIM data does supermarket shopping in China need?
The moments that need data are usually opening an Alipay or WeChat payment code, checking Hema or Sam’s Club stock, finding stores, translating simplified-Chinese ingredients, and contacting companions. These do not necessarily require unlimited data, but photo uploads, Reels, and video consume more.
JEKO currently offers China daily eSIMs and China fixed-data eSIMs. Selected plans may roam through China Mobile or China Unicom, and some routes use a Hong Kong or Singapore IP. This differs from the claim that “a native China IP always needs no VPN.” Before checkout, verify the selected plan, route, FUP, supported network, and platforms you need.
For a three-to-five-day city trip mainly using maps, payments, and messaging, start by comparing small to medium daily data allowances. Choose more data or suitable unlimited service only for frequent photo or video uploads. Connectivity makes shopping smoother; it cannot replace a payment account, membership, or identity verification. Screenshot your hotel address, store names, and key orders before departure as a backup.
8. Three practical supermarket itineraries
Short trips to major cities such as Shanghai or Beijing: no dedicated supermarket pilgrimage is necessary. Put Hema before or after dinner, locate a nearby branch, and allow about 45–60 minutes for desserts and daily goods. Share chilled treats that evening and buy shelf-stable gifts last.
In-depth trips to Xuchang or Xinxiang, Henan: find a directly operated Pangdonglai store and check that day’s notices. For limited pastries, confirm you can use the official local ordering method. If they sell out, focus on DL private labels and the retail experience so the trip is not wasted.
Groups with an existing Sam’s Club member: visit before returning to the hotel when there is time to sort luggage. Splitting a large box of mochi or biscuits among three to four people is fun, but calculate remaining baggage weight before a low unit price leads to excess-baggage fees.
Frequently asked questions
Q1: Which Hema Swiss roll is most worth buying in 2026?
Start with the Guizhou matcha Swiss roll. A 2026 local source documents it, while older product photos document the classic creamy roll. Check current branch stock instead of relying on an online ranking.
Q2: Can I enter Hema and shop without downloading the App?
You can generally browse a physical store first. Follow store instructions for member discounts, checkout, or App-only services. A passing traveler need not register every online-shopping feature for one dessert.
Q3: Does every Hema branch support store pickup through the App?
No. Hema Linli closed in 2025. Check the App’s current delivery methods or ask support about pickup at another branch.
Q4: Does Pangdonglai have directly operated stores in Shanghai and Shenzhen?
Its directly operated network remains centered on Xuchang and Xinxiang, Henan. DL products in another city do not prove a local Pangdonglai supermarket exists.
Q5: Must I queue for Pangdonglai’s large mooncake?
No. In September 2026, some sales moved to limited same-city online ordering and store pickup. Check the latest notice and city rules rather than old queueing guides.
Q6: Can I shop at Sam’s Club without membership?
Confirm valid membership first. Sam’s Club is membership-based; having the App is not membership, and entry and checkout rules still apply.
Q7: Is a large box of Sam’s Club Swiss rolls suitable for Taiwan?
It is better eaten during the trip. Temperature and storage are difficult to control. If carrying it anyway, check actual ingredients and entry rules first.
Q8: Can Pangdonglai pork-floss snacks or instant noodles with ham enter Taiwan?
Vacuum packaging does not make them permissible. Meat and processed meat face quarantine, and Taiwan Customs specifically warns about instant noodles from mainland China containing ham sausage. Check the authority’s guidance or leave them behind.
Q9: Can ordinary sealed biscuits and milk candy enter Taiwan?
They can be initial gift candidates. Still check ingredients, import quarantine, and personal-use quantity rules. A food-inspection exemption does not waive animal or plant quarantine.
Q10: Will a Taiwan credit card linked to Alipay or WeChat always work?
Not necessarily. Some overseas cards can be linked, but card, platform risk controls, and merchant transaction types still matter. Test early and prepare a backup.
Q11: Do I need an unlimited eSIM for supermarket shopping?
Not necessarily. Payments, maps, and stock checks use little data. Consider more for heavy video uploads or long live streams, and inspect the actual plan’s carrier, data allowance, FUP, and IP route.
Q12: How do I verify that a product recommended on Xiaohongshu is still available?
Record the post date and full product name. Match its size and store city against the official App, local branch, and brand notices. Seasonal bakery lists without dates are especially unreliable.
