Major Chinese cities, particularly Shanghai, have witnessed a tourism boom driven by more moves like visa-free entry and tax refund policies, making travel and spending more convenient for international visitors.
From January to April 2025, Shanghai welcomed around 2.6 million inbound tourists, marking a 37.1-percent year-on-year increase.
South Korea is the top source country, with over 200,000 visitors coming to Shanghai in the first four months this year, which is up 140 percent year on year, followed by Japan and Thailand.
"Shanghai is a combination of future and also ancient, like right now the town we're in. So the combination of the two makes Shanghai unique," said a tourist from Cambodia.
"I think Shanghai is very beautiful. I will definitely choose Shanghai over all the other cities. It's very well developed. I think more people should come to Shanghai and have a look," said a tourist from Kenya.
Now, there are 121 travel routes designed for international tourists in Shanghai, featuring attractions such as the Yuyuan Lantern Festival and Zhujiajiao Ancient Town.
Visitors can enjoy more affordable products, easy payment options, and instant tax refunds for their shopping.
The city keeps improving tourism offerings and consumer services to enrich the travel experience.
"It's a good experience. I've never been to China, that's why I decided to start from Shanghai," said a visitor from Belarus.
"I come for a visit over weekends. I can pay just by using facial recognition, which is amazing for me, We don't have this in my country," said a visitor from South Korea.
Local businesses have been adapting to the influx of international tourists by offering multilingual services, expanding tax refund points, and making shopping seamless. "The restaurant sees a lot of international customers, with the number rising about three percent from the previous year. We've prepared Korean and English menus, as well as credit card payment options for international visitors. For tourists on half-day tours, the restaurant provides morning tea service," said You Yumin, a restaurant general manager. "South Koreans make up around 60 percent of the total customers, with hundreds coming to the store daily. On weekends, they account for 80 to 90 percent of the total. We have introduced Korean-language labels, and the staff are required to learn some basic Korean words for better communication with the customers," said Li Rongrui, a store manager.
Recently, China has lowered the departure tax refund threshold from 500 yuan (about 69.40 U.S. dollars) to 200 yuan (about 27.76 U.S. dollars), which is expected to boost spending further.
"You can use money for shopping," said two visitors from Italy.
"I believe it's attractive. If I buy something here, I can get a tax refund," said a Mexican visitor.
"International consumers can receive a 9-percent tax refund based on their spending amount. With the instant refund option, they can collect cash immediately. By the second half of the year, we will increase 30 percent more tax refund points," said Li Fei, a cultural and tourism commercial complex manager.
Data have shown that Shanghai's duty-free sales for departing travelers increased by 81 percent from the previous year, while the total amount of tax refunds processed rose by 77 percent. Meanwhile, sales under the "instant tax refund" system saw a 40-fold increase compared to the previous year.
Shanghai enjoys inbound tourism surges, driven by visa-free entry, tax refunds
