Shanghai has emerged as a top destination for foreigners seeking unique and high-quality apparels at unbeatable prices, paired with seamless payment and tax refund processes.
At a fabric market in the city's Huangpu District, local shop owners report a bustling scene, with some stores receiving nearly 20 foreign customers on a single weekend day.
Tourists, even those with short stays of one or two weeks, are drawn by the market's ability to deliver high-quality custom clothing in record time, turning first-time buyers into loyal returnees.
At a shop specializing in custom qipao, foreign customers are captivated by the artistry of Chinese craftsmanship.
"It's very individualized, so I really like it. And you can combine a lot of different patterns. So it expresses the creativity of the people and the craftsmen to create such things," said Dirk Winkelmann, a German tourist.
Shanghai's efforts to enhance the shopping experience for international visitors are paying off.
Huangpu District introduced the country's first self-service tax refund terminal in May, streamlining the process for instant tax refunds via mobile payments.
Visitors can simply tap their phone on a refund card to have tax rebates credited to their digital accounts instantly.
"Currently, over 300 departure tax refund stores have been registered in Huangpu District, marking a 150-percent increase compared with the same period last year. To provide more convenient and efficient tax refund services, Huangpu District continues to enhance its departure tax refund capabilities. Six tax refund upon purchase service points have now been established across major commercial areas in Huangpu District," said Liu Jing, head of the Goods and Services Tax Division at Huangpu District Tax Bureau.
According to the Shanghai Municipal Commission of Commerce, from July 4 to August 14, the city's tax-refund stores issued 34,000 refund applications, with sales reaching 470 million yuan (about 66 million U.S. dollars).
Daily refund application numbers and sales soared by 3.2 times and 83.8 percent respectively compared with 2024, with tax refund upon purchase transactions skyrocketing 14 folds.
Shanghai fabric markets draw foreigners with quality products, services
