Once upon a time, tea, porcelain, and panda plush toys topped the shopping lists of international visitors to China. Today, high-value-added products from China’s smart manufacturing—drones, foldable smartphones, action cameras, and designer toys with Chinese cultural flair—have become the new favorites. Behind this shift lies the dual impetus of the "Shop in China" initiative and the "China Travel" boom, as well as the tangible results of China's tax refund policies for departing international travelers. In recent years, China's Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) has consistently rolled out practical and effective policy measures, injecting strong momentum into the inbound consumption market.
Smoother Tax Refunds for Departing Travelers
In May this year, MOFCOM and five other government departments issued a notice on intensifying efforts to optimize the tax refund policy for departing tourists and expand inbound consumption. Building on last year's policy framework, this latest update focuses on removing bottlenecks in inbound consumption and creating a more convenient and comfortable consumer environment.
Process optimization is a key focus of this policy upgrade. For single-tax-refund transactions valued below 10,000 yuan, random inspections now replace the previous case-by-case verification. The "instant refund" service is now provided available across different regions nationwide, with a processing deadline of 28 days. Customs and tax refund authorities conduct online verification of electronic application forms and invoices, making the entire process paperless. The policy also calls for setting up special tax refund zones at major expos such as the China International Import Expo and the Canton Fair, and encourages international consumption hub cities to build globally competitive shopping districts.
Upgraded Consumption with Brand Ascendancy
Since the first version of the optimized tax refund policy was introduced in April 2025, impressive results have been posted across the country. According to Shanghai Customs, in the first five months of this year, Shanghai ports processed a total of 201,000 tax refund transactions, with total sales of refund-eligible goods reaching 1.92 billion yuan, up 300% and 62% year-on-year, respectively. In the first four months of this year, Beijing's "dual-hub" airports verified tax refund applications totaling 587 million yuan, up 59.08% from the same period last year. Nanjing Lukou Airport Customs reported that from January to May, 1,171 tax refund applications were processed, involving total sales of 26.67 million yuan, representing year-on-year increases of 173.60% and 32.42%, respectively. Nationwide, sales from departure tax refunds in 2025 nearly doubled year-on-year, and the number of tax refund stores has exceeded 14,000—four times the figure at the end of 2024.
International Consumption Center Cities Taking the Lead
Over the past five years, MOFCOM has worked with relevant authorities to guide the five international consumption center cities—Shanghai, Beijing, Guangzhou, Tianjin, and Chongqing—to closely align with the "international" focus, center on "consumption," and highlight their role as "hubs," advancing with innovative measures and intensified efforts. Currently, these five cities account for about one-eighth of the national total retail sales of consumer goods, one-quarter of national-level demonstration pedestrian streets, one-third of China's time-honored brands, one-half of the country's consumer goods imports, nearly half of inbound foreign tourists, and two-thirds of departure tax refund sales nationwide. According to Kearney's 2025 Global Cities Index, Beijing remains firmly in 6th place globally, Shanghai rose four places to 8th, and Guangzhou climbed ten places from its pre-initiation ranking. In 2025, China recorded 82.035 million inbound and outbound foreign visits, up 26.4% year-on-year. The "China Travel" and "Shop in China" buzz continues to grow.
The shift in shopping lists fundamentally reflects the value upgrade of Chinese manufacturing. A customs officer at Nanjing Lukou Airport observed: "Smart electronic products and trendy cultural and creative goods made in China are increasingly popular with foreign tourists, attracting more attention with their quality, innovation, and unique Chinese charm." Guan Lixin, a researcher at the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation under MOFCOM, noted that the changing shopping patterns of foreign tourists reflect Chinese brands' steady climb up the value chain and growing recognition among global consumers. This trend also highlights the rising appeal of shopping in the Chinese travel experience—foreign visitors are seeking unique products that combine practical value, cultural elements, and unforgettable memories.
Digital Empowerment Bringing "Shop in China" to Your Fingertips
Driven by the digital wave, corporate innovation is accelerating the implementation of policies. In early June, Beijing launched the country's first online tax refund store for departing international travelers. International customers can place orders through JD.com's bilingual (Chinese-English) interface, and the system automatically generates electronic tax refund applications and invoices, which can be quickly processed at designated downtown refund points or airports. Meanwhile, Shenzhen's Huaqiangbei electronics market has set up a centralized departure tax refund point equipped with self-service refund machines that complete the process in just two minutes, while also coordinating with surrounding commercial districts to issue dining vouchers, encouraging secondary spending of refunded funds.
Expansion and Upgrades—A Promising Future Ahead
In November 2025, China's Ministry of Finance and MOFCOM designated 15 pilot cities—Beijing, Tianjin, Shanghai, Chongqing, Guangzhou, Nanjing, Hangzhou, Xiamen, Qingdao, Wuhan, Changsha, Shenzhen, Chengdu, Kunming, and Xi'an—with a two-year implementation period. These pilots will focus on enriching the supply of high-quality consumer goods, optimizing payment services for foreign visitors, and enhancing the overall level of internationalized services. As more cities join the "Shop in China" landscape, the inbound consumption environment will continue to improve—offering more surprises and greater convenience both for foreign friends who wish to "Shop in China" and for domestic consumers who want to "Buy Global."