China introduced a new cross-regional instant tax refund service to improve convenience for overseas shoppers on Friday at the ongoing 2025 China International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS) in Beijing.
At the launch ceremony, the Bank of China, one of the country’s six largest state-owned commercial lenders, announced it would be the first to pilot the initiative in regions where it handles tax refund services. The new service will allow overseas visitors to obtain tax refunds instantly after purchase and depart from ports in other cities, making shopping in China more convenient.
The new service represents a higher level of connectivity in departure tax refund services. It removes distance barriers by enabling nationwide mutual recognition of an application filed at any local place. By linking data across regions, the system boosts efficiency in processing refunds while providing a smoother, more customer-friendly experience -- making shopping more enjoyable and tax refunds easier to obtain.
"Building on earlier pilots between Beijing-Tianjin and Sichuan-Shaanxi, the Bank of China has developed a systematic cross-regional instant tax refund solution. We plan to roll out this function across all authorized regions within the year," said Cai Zhao, Vice President of the Bank of China.
So far, more than 10,000 duty-free tax refund shops have been established nationwide. In the first eight months of this year, the number of beneficiaries of departure tax refunds jumped 248 percent year on year, while sales eligible for tax refunds grew by 98 percent. The reform has become a new driver of inbound consumption.
"This year, we, together with other departments, will also launch pilot programs to foster an internationalized consumption environment. We will support more cities to remove their weaknesses in consumption environment, enhancing convenience and improving the shopping experience, so that foreign visitors are more willing to come and shop with ease," said Sheng Qiuping, Vice Minister of Commerce.
The five-day CIFTIS opened in Beijing on Wednesday, under the theme of "Embrace Intelligent Technologies, Empower Trade in Services."
As the world's first and largest comprehensive exhibition dedicated to service trades, CIFTIS has, since its launch in 2012, attracted nearly 1.19 million exhibitors, traders, and participants from 198 countries and regions, along with more than 800 international business associations and institutions. Over 13 years of growth, CIFTIS has evolved into both a vital window showcasing China's achievements in service trades and an important platform for advancing international cooperation.
China introduces cross-regional instant tax refund service
A former television host from Taiwan, Zhai Xuan, has made a pivotal decision to leave mainstream broadcasting in order to create content that provides a better understanding of the Chinese mainland and cross-strait relations.
Zhai, a seasoned television host with over a decade of experience in Taiwan's media landscape, recently addressed an audience at an event in Beijing, where she revealed her complete transition into independent online media.
In her remarks, she articulated her aspiration to bridge what she perceives as a significant information gap between audiences on both sides of the Strait, highlighting her commitment to fostering a deeper understanding and connection through her new endeavors.
"I was really surprised by all the fake news. There were stories saying people on the mainland can't afford tea eggs or that they live in mud houses and in Taiwan, this was the main information many people received," said Zhai.
Zhai said she initially began producing online videos to challenge such perceptions while continuing her work as a television host.
In April 2025, she travelled to the mainland with her father to fulfill her late grandfather's wish to return to his hometown. The trip, which reunited family members separated since 1949, was recorded in a video series titled "Journey to Find Our Roots", drawing attention from viewers in both Taiwan and the mainland.
"Many people in Taiwan told me that after watching, they wanted to apply for a mainland travel permit immediately and go looking for their relatives. Some had long forgotten these things, but after seeing my story, they began thinking about their hometowns and family members they had never met and decided to search for their roots," Zhai shared her story at the event.
By mid-2025, Zhai said she began to feel increasing pressure amid rising political tensions and a tightening atmosphere around cross-Strait exchanges in Taiwan.
After more than 12 years in the industry, Zhai resigned from her position, believing it was the right thing to do.
"At that moment, I felt this was a major issue，not just for me, but for Chinese people on both sides of the Strait. If I backed down then, I wouldn’t be standing on the right side," said Zhai.
Since leaving television, Zhai has broadened her online programming to encompass a range of daily-life topics, including practical guidance on applying for a mainland travel permit and using commonly employed mobile applications, in addition to content that delves into historical memory and cultural connections across the Strait.
As the debate over cross-Strait relations continues in Taiwan, Zhai said she remains committed to her current path.
Former Taiwan TV host bridges cross-Strait divide via online media
