Sales of China's National Games merchandise top 680 million yuan

Licensed merchandise for China's 15th National Games has generated more than 680 million yuan (about 96 million U.S. dollars) in sales, as events continue across the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

With demand surging for products featuring the Games' dolphin-themed mascots, "Xiyangyang" and "Lerongrong", inspired by the Chinese white dolphin, have emerged as top sellers and helped drive a boom in cultural and creative products.

Retail outlets for the National Games and the National Paralympic Games have reported heavy foot traffic in recent days, with several popular items selling out.

In Guangzhou, staff at a local manufacturer were preparing batches of the "Joy Pack" on Sunday, a backpack printed with the mascots and designed as a commemorative item for the opening ceremony.

The product, now part of the official licensed merchandise lineup, has quickly gained traction for its design and practicality.

"Our 'Joy Pack' went live on our official online store on Nov 14, and sales topped 10,000 in just 30 minutes. With respect to such high demand -- a concern of consumers -- we're taking urgent actions. The Greater Bay Area has a well-established industrial supply chain, and we're working overtime on packing and shipping," said Liu Lu, deputy general manager of a licensed merchandise operator for the Games.

Organizers have released more than 2,800 licensed products across 20 categories. Guangdong has opened over 500 offline retail stores and more than 70 online shops, helping drive strong merchandise sales.

"I bought this earphone case, a blind box, and a volunteer-style backpack. The dolphin is so cute, and the products that blend traditional culture look great and are really worth it. As a Guangdong native, I feel proud -- the National Games only come once every four years, and this year they're being held right here in the Greater Bay Area. I wanted to experience the atmosphere," said Yuan Jiahui, a consumer.

The National Games, held every four years, is China's largest national multi-sport event. It opened on Nov 9 in Guangzhou, the capital city of Guangdong Province, and runs through Nov 21 this year.

Sales of China's National Games merchandise top 680 million yuan

The number of overseas tourists claiming China's departure tax refund surged 285 percent year on year in the first 11 months of 2025, according to data released by the State Taxation Administration on Monday.

In the same period, the sales volume of goods eligible for departure tax refunds and the amount of tax refunds both increased 98.8 percent, according to the data. By the end of November, the number of tax refund stores catering to international visitors in the country had reached 12,252, including over 7,000 "instant refund" stores.

The departure tax refund measures, which enable overseas tourists to claim back value-added tax on eligible purchases made at designated tax refund stores before leaving China, are translating growing inbound travel flows into consumption momentum and emerging as a fresh driver for inbound tourism spending, the administration said.

China has introduced a series of measures since April to optimize its tax refund system for overseas visitors. Tax authorities nationwide have improved processing efficiency and enabled cross-region refund services, making the procedure more convenient and thus boosting tourists' spending.

The country first implemented the departure tax refund policy for overseas travelers in 2015. Since then, the scale of departure tax refunds has continued to grow year by year, benefiting an increasing number of international travelers.

Departure tax refund applications in China surge 285 pct in Jan-Nov