Against the backdrop of deglobalization, intensifying geopolitical conflicts, the digital technology revolution and the deep advancement of the green transition, the global value chain (GVC) is undergoing profound “re-globalization” restructuring. It is shifting from “efficiency first” toward resilience, sustainability and inclusiveness, with increasingly prominent features of regionalization, digitalization and greening. As the world’s largest trading nation in goods, China’s exports have long been locked in the low-and mid-end segments of GVCs, facing multiple challenges, including core technology bottlenecks, insufficient adaptation to trade rules, and weak industrial and supply chain resilience. This paper systematically analyzes the core characteristics and driving forces of GVC reconstruction, examines the current status, achievements and prominent bottlenecks of China’s export upgrading, and proposes targeted export upgrading paths from five dimensions. It aims to provide theoretical references and practical guidance for China’s exports to break through low-end lock-in, achieve high-quality development, and deeply integrate into GVC restructuring.