Hainan's offshore duty-free sales surpass 200 bln yuan since policy upgrade 5 yrs ago

Duty-free sales in south China's Hainan Province have surpassed 200 billion yuan (about 28.1 billion U.S. dollars) over the past five years, after the island significantly raised its shopping quota and expanded product categories in July 2020, the provincial Haikou Customs said.

As of Sept 11, a total of 30 million consumers had made duty-free purchases, buying 247 million items since July 1, 2020, when the policy took effect. The annual duty-free shopping quota for travelers leaving the island was raised to 100,000 yuan (14.04 U.S. dollars) per person, with the cap on single-item purchases lifted and the range of eligible goods extended to include electronics and other products.

Over the past five years, shopping at duty-free stores has become a must-do experience for tourists in Hainan.

"I think the duty-free stores offer a wide variety of products. The original prices are already lower than elsewhere, and with additional discounts, it's particularly cost-effective. The value for money here is much higher compared to outside," said a tourist from Jiangsu Province.

To enhance the shopping experience, Hainan has introduced multiple convenient pickup options, including mail delivery, island resident pickup after returning, and instant pickup with or without guarantee. These measures have further stimulated consumption potential.

Yang Ruisi, chairperson of Haikou Global Duty Free Plaza, noted, "We actively introduce new brands such as alcoholic beverages and electronic products, and expedite the restocking of popular fragrances, cosmetics, and high-end goods. In recent years, benefiting from new models like 'buy and pick up immediately' and 'buy with guarantee and pick up immediately,' as well as promotional efforts and customer attraction through large-scale commercial events including concerts, our industry's development paths have continuously expanded."

To fully leverage the policy, Haikou Customs has implemented smart supervision methods, including a "centralized+automated" review system and drone delivery of duty-free goods.

Song Xiaobo, deputy chief of the Duty-Free Goods Supervision Section at Yecheng Customs, said, "By handling the duty-free goods registration and approval for entry and exit at all 12 duty-free stores across the island through information technology and centralized processing, we achieve 'arrival, reporting, review, and release' of duty-free goods immediately. This has improved document review efficiency by 60 percent and doubled the logistics turnover efficiency of duty-free goods."

There are now 12 offshore duty-free stores in Hainan, located in key tourist cities including Haikou, Sanya, and Qionghai. 

Hainan's offshore duty-free sales surpass 200 bln yuan since policy upgrade 5 yrs ago

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