Government News
Huangpu sees remarkable surge in tourist spending 2025-05-08
Huangpu witnessed a remarkable surge in sales and tax refund applications by foreign tourists during the May Day holiday. According to Shanghai Observer, the number of tax refund applications in the district soared by 400 percent compared to the previous year, while sales increased by 143 percent.
As the first stop in Shanghai for overseas visitors, Huangpu offers smarter devices, streamlined processes and a more internationalized experience to make shopping easier and more efficient.
The district has introduced innovative measures to facilitate the tax refund process for foreign shoppers. A self-service tax refund machine at Daimaru Department Store has significantly improved the efficiency of the process.
The machine is easy to use and supports many languages, including Chinese, English, Japanese and South Korean. It can read passport information with one tap. Overseas visitors just need to follow the instructions, enter their arrival date and contact information, scan the invoice QR code, and a tax refund form will be created. After signing on the screen, the form can be printed out.
During the holiday, over 80 percent of refunds at Daimaru Department Store were processed through this machine in a single day.
Huangpu sees remarkable surge in tourist spending
Huangpu District saw a surge in sales and tax refund applications during the May Day holiday.
Huangpu District is a major hub for foreign tourists seeking tax refunds in Shanghai. In 2025, over 15,000 refund applications were processed in the first four months, representing a 119-percent increase in sales compared to the same period last year. In April alone, the number of refund applications increased by more than 250 percent year on year, with over 6,500 foreign tourists benefiting from the service.
To further boost consumer spending, the district has expanded its instant refund services, allowing foreign tourists to receive their refund immediately after shopping. This encourages additional spending and has been implemented in five major shopping centers, including the Daimaru store, Yong'an Department Store and New World Mall.
The district is planning to set up a centralized refund point in the Xintiandi area, making it even more convenient for foreign tourists to enjoy the instant refund service.
Data from Huangpu's tax refund services show that foreign consumers are not just interested in luxury brands but also in Chinese domestic products. In 2024, luxury brands such as Hermes accounted for nearly 4,000 refund applications, while a silk mall which brings together domestic Chinese brands and guochao (China chic) products, saw a 116-percent increase in refund applications.
Source: City News Service
Application Status
| 04-16 | 21315227 | Processing |
| 03-12 | 21315226 | Processing |
| 09-26 | 21315225 | Processing |
Inquiry Status
| 02-29 | 02131558 | Received |
| 03-06 | 02131557 | Received |
| 11-14 | 02131556 | Received |
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