This year, not only has the popularity of “traveling to China” continued to soar, but “shopping in China” has also gone viral. Practical tips like “make sure to bring empty suitcases to China” have sparked heated discussions on overseas social media platforms, as coming to China for a shopping spree has become a new trend among foreign tourists. Their shopping lists have evolved beyond the traditional trio of silk, tea, and porcelain. Now, the new trio—small appliances, drones, and trendy cultural and creative products—are filling the suitcases of foreign tourists.
On the fourth floor of Beijing's Xiushui Street, tech specialty stores are bustling with customers. “Many foreigners come in and immediately ask for DJI, Ezviz, or ShaoYin products. Gimbals, action cameras, and sports earbuds sell the best,” said one store owner.
At another Lenovo store carrying Huawei products, Lenovo tablets, Huawei wireless earbuds, and smartwatches are all popular. Sales staff mentioned that a few days ago, they served a Spanish tour group of over ten people, nearly all of whom bought tablets. They also purchased numerous electronic devices like massagers, fascia guns, and eye care devices, while wireless earbuds and smartwatches sold out completely.
“This tax refund speed is truly ‘instant’!” “ At the centralized refund counter in Beijing's Guomao Shopping Mall, an overseas traveler who purchased over 30,000 yuan worth of clothing used Alipay's ”Tap to Pay" feature to display the payment QR code. After staff scanned and verified the information, the refund of over 2,700 yuan was instantly transferred to the traveler's Alipay e-wallet. Mall staff noted that many customers made additional purchases immediately after receiving their refunds, demonstrating the new policy's immediate impact on boosting inbound tourism spending.
This year, China has comprehensively enhanced the convenience of its departure tax refund system, lowering the threshold from 500 yuan to 200 yuan. According to the latest data from the State Taxation Administration, in the first 11 months, the number of overseas tourists applying for departure tax refunds increased by 285% year-on-year, while the sales value of refunded goods and the total refund amount rose by 98.8%.
Editor Ⅰ: Zhang Congxiao
Editor Ⅱ: Bao Gang
Editor Ⅲ: Liu Guosong
