Shenzhen has turbocharged its tax refund system for international visitors, allowing instant "shop-and-refund" processing via Alipay's tap-and-go technology - the latest upgrade to China's tourism-friendly policies that have driven a 140% surge in foreign spending through the mobile platform this year.
Frictionless Refunds
At Shenzhen Bay MixC mall, Uzbek tourist Leon demonstrated the new system: after purchasing electronics with his passport, he simply tapped his Alipay app at the refund counter, receiving his VAT rebate within minutes. "From 'Made in China' clothes to drones, shopping here is amazing. The instant refund is just immediate!" he said, praising the combo of visa-free entry, mobile payments, and tax rebates as the ultimate "China Travel Trifecta."
Tech-Enabled Tourism
The city has deployed the Alipay-powered system across all major ports (air, land, and sea), becoming China's first city to offer fully digitized tax refunds. Visitors can now:
- Tap or scan for instant refunds at 10+ downtown malls
- Submit refund requests via mini-programs, with money returning to Alipay/credit cards
- Access multilingual support (16 languages) for payments, transit, and attraction bookings
Policy Momentum
The upgrade follows April's nationwide rollout of instant tax refunds by China's tax authority. Shenzhen's border checkpoints now feature prominent refund signage, while Alipay's "China Travel Service Package" integrates translation, ride-hailing, and currency tools - part of Beijing's push to revive its US$1 trillion tourism industry post-pandemic.
At DJI's flagship store, staff note a 30% increase in foreign customers drawn by streamlined refunds. With Alipay processing 90% of Shenzhen's tourist refunds, the mobile ecosystem is proving pivotal in converting China's policy advantages into tourist dollars. Electronic products account for 45% of foreign tourist purchases in Shenzhen, with average refunds of ¥1,200 (US$165) per transaction.
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