Previously, traditional souvenirs such as tea, porcelain, and panda dolls have always occupied the shopping lists of foreign tourists coming to China; Today, high value-added "Made in China" such as UAVs, folding screen mobile phones, sports cameras, China-Chic designer toys are becoming new favorites. Behind this change is the dual drive of the "Buy in China" campaign and the "China Travel" craze, and it is also a direct reflection of the effectiveness of China's outbound tax rebate policy, allowing tourists from all over the world not only to linger in the mountains and waters of China, but also to enjoy the consumption experience here.
A smoother departure tax refund
In May of this year, the Ministry of Commerce and six other departments issued the "Notice on Strengthening the Optimization of Exit Tax Refund Measures and Expanding Inbound Consumption". This policy has been optimized and upgraded based on the "Notice on Further Optimizing Exit Tax Refund Policies and Expanding Inbound Consumption" issued last year, and is known as the Exit Tax Refund 2.0 Policy.
Process optimization is the focus of this policy upgrade. Random inspections will be conducted for shopping amounts below 10000 yuan corresponding to a single tax refund, bidding farewell to individual verification; The "buy and return" service realizes nationwide cross regional mutual recognition, with a unified departure processing time limit of 28 days; Customs and tax refund agencies verify electronic application forms and invoices online, achieving a paperless process throughout the entire process. The policy also specifies the establishment of tax refund zones at major exhibitions such as the China International Import Expo and the Canton Fair, encouraging international consumption hub cities to build globally competitive shopping districts.
Consumer upgrading reflects brand transition
In April 2025, the optimized departure tax rebate policy version 1.0 will be introduced, and various regions will submit impressive results. According to Shanghai Customs, in the first five months of this year, Shanghai Port has completed a total of 201000 outbound tax refunds, involving a sales amount of 1.92 billion yuan for tax refunded goods, an increase of 300% and 62% year-on-year, respectively; In the first four months of this year, the total amount of departure tax refund application forms verified at Beijing's "dual hub" airports was 587 million yuan, an increase of 59.08% compared to the same period last year. According to the customs statistics of Nanjing Lukou Airport, a total of 1171 departure tax refund application forms were verified from January to May this year, with a total amount of 26.669 million yuan, an increase of 173.60% and 32.42% respectively compared to the same period last year
The changes in the shopping list essentially reflect the value transition of Chinese manufacturing. Customs officials at Nanjing Lukou Airport observed that "Chinese made smart electronic products and fashionable domestic cultural and creative products are increasingly popular among foreign tourists, attracting more and more attention with their quality, innovation, and unique Chinese charm." Guan Lixin, a researcher at the Institute of International Trade and Economic Cooperation of the Ministry of Commerce, pointed out that the changes in foreign tourists' shopping patterns reflect that Chinese brands are constantly climbing up the value chain and gaining more recognition among global consumers. This trend also highlights the growing appeal of shopping in Chinese tourism experiences - foreign tourists are seeking unique products that combine practical value, cultural elements, and unforgettable experiences.
Digital empowerment of 'China shopping' at your fingertips
Under the wave of digitalization, policies to accelerate enterprise innovation are being implemented. In early June, Beijing launched the first online departure tax refund store in China. International passengers can place orders through the Chinese and English interface of the JD APP, and the system automatically generates an electronic tax refund application form and invoice, which can be quickly processed at designated city refund points or airports. Indonesian traveler Angela Valencia received a tax refund on the spot at the hotel's centralized refund point after purchasing a mobile phone online. She exclaimed, "This is amazing! I didn't expect online shopping to also receive a tax refund! China has brought me so many surprises
Meanwhile, Shenzhen Huaqiangbei Market has newly established a centralized refund point for outbound tax refunds, equipped with self-service tax refund machines that can complete procedures in 2 minutes. At the same time, the business district is linked to issue catering consumption vouchers, guiding the refund funds to be used for secondary consumption on site. Italian tourist Sofia gave a thumbs up and said, "You can have authentic Chinese food in Huaqiangbei just after paying the tax!" Singaporean tourist Mr. Lin received a 150 yuan tax refund after purchasing electronic products in Nanjing. He said, "The store coverage is high, small items can also be refunded, and the verification is fast. Shopping in Nanjing is very cost-effective.(Outlook New Era)
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