Made in China: the three words that, more than any other, are stamped on British shoppers' consumer goods — from toothbrushes and televisions to the toys we will buy our children this Christmas.

Now the might of Chinese manufacture is churning out something new: a wave of young, cash-rich visitors who are here to spend, and lavishly. Four years after Britain was granted "approved destinations status" by the Chinese Government, its newly affluent elite has already eclipsed the Americans and is challenging Middle Eastern and Russian tourists for the title of London's most eager consumers.

According to figures from the New West End Company, which represents the retailers of Bond Street, Oxford Street and Regent Street, Chinese nationals spent 127 per cent more this October than September, a 21 per cent year-on-year increase.

Bypassing Primark and proceeding directly to Prada, these Chinese hanker after only the most expensive and exclusive luxury goods. Fuelled by a domestic credit boom and the Chinese Government's newly adopted freemarket mantra that "to spend is patriotic", their spending sprees are a form of capitalist trophy hunting.