Hainan FTP's special customs operations implemented effectively with remarkable achievements

The island-wide special customs operations in the Hainan Free Trade Port (FTP), the world's largest FTP by area, have been smoothly implemented since the official launch on Dec 18, 2025, delivering remarkable results in zero-tariff imports and duty-free sales.

From Dec 18 to 31, the value of zero-tariff goods imported through customs supervision of the Hainan FTP hit 420 million yuan (about 60 million U.S. dollars), and that of zero-tariff goods processed in Hainan and sold to the mainland duty-free exceeded 47.23 million yuan (about 6.75 million U.S. dollars), according to data from the local customs authority.

Meanwhile, 3,265 new foreign trade companies were registered, marking a more than twofold year-on-year increase. Throughout 2025, over 30,000 new foreign trade companies were registered, up more than 40 percent over the previous year.

The island-wide special customs operations have also sparked a wave of duty-free consumption on the resort island of Hainan. Since Dec 18, it has recorded more than 2 billion yuan (about 285.86 million U.S. dollars) in duty-free sales and welcomed over 300,000 trips of shoppers.

Hainan customs authorities have optimized clearance and supervision methods, significantly enhancing the efficiency of the entire duty-free supply chain. This has enabled faster product turnover in duty-free stores, thereby improving visitors' shopping experience.

The move to designate China's southernmost island province of Hainan, which covers more than 30,000 square kilometers, as a special customs supervision zone is widely seen as a landmark in China's efforts to promote free trade and expand high-standard opening-up.

The launch of island-wide special customs operations marks a new stage in the development of the Hainan FTP, which enables freer flows of goods, capital, personnel, and data, supported by zero tariffs, low tax rates, and a simplified tax system.

Under the new policies, the share of zero-tariff products in the Hainan FTP has been raised from 21 to 74 percent, and the list of related items has been expanded from 1,900 to over 6,600.

Zero-tariff goods processed in Hainan may be sold to the mainland duty-free if their local processing added 30 percent or more in value.

Meanwhile, the value of certified locally produced goods in Hainan can be deducted from the cost of domestically sourced materials. This deduction counts toward the value-added portion, making it easier to meet the 30 percent threshold.

Companies said that this policy is conducive to maintaining closer cooperation between local material suppliers and manufacturers.

"Our company has been included in the first batch of certified companies supplying locally produced goods. Currently, we have partnership with four enterprises. Our second salt field is expected to have an annual output of approximately 9,000 tons, providing high-quality sea salt products for Hainan enterprises," said Wang Wensheng, manager of a local salt company.

The policy has not only unlocked sizable consumption opportunities for Hainan but also triggered a notable surge in tourism demand.

As the New Year holiday arrived, vacationers have flocked to the yacht marina in Sanya, a renowned tourist destination in Hainan, to explore the tropical coastal city's unique winter offerings.

Last year, the Hainan Bureau of Maritime Affairs implemented new regulations, raising the passenger limit per yacht from 12 to 26. This move has comprehensively promoted the upgrading of the entire yacht design, manufacturing, and service chain, significantly enhancing the international competitiveness of Hainan's yacht industry and attracting more well-known domestic and foreign yacht brands to the province.

Local industry insiders say that the development of Hainan FTP is bringing new impetus to the yacht industry.

"Since the official launch of Hainan's island-wide special customs operations, we have witnessed significant growth in the number of tourists. We also hope to take advantage of the favorable policies and gradually introduce more major international brands in the future to further promote the high-quality development of the yacht industry in Sanya," said Dong Jinhai, head of a yacht club.

Hainan FTP's special customs operations implemented effectively with remarkable achievements

Coffee estates in Pu'er City, southwest China's Yunnan Province, are offering a new kind of holiday experience, combining farming, tourism and China's growing coffee culture.

As the New Year holiday spurs travel, visitors are arriving at coffee estates in Pu'er, looking for a slower, calmer way to welcome the year ahead.

"The air here is great, and the overall vibe is very relaxing. We can also learn a lot about coffee, and it's especially fun for kids," said Zhang Boai, a tourist from Beijing.

"I'm really, really excited. Coming here today and seeing such a large coffee plantation, with different kinds of cherries -- red, green, deep red -- has given me a completely new and deeper understanding of coffee as a crop," said Zhang Lei, a tourist from Hangzhou.

With abundant sunlight, a mild climate and rich soil, Pu'er offers ideal conditions for growing high-quality Arabica coffee.

In recent years, a growing number of coffee estates have emerged across the city. Combining cultivation, processing and accommodation, they represent a new way of exploring how a single crop can generate more value.

"Our project officially opened in January 2025. Since then, we've welcomed about 300,000 visitors, mostly from big cities like Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou," said Dai Xiaoyan, general manager of Beautiful Star Village, Windy Coffee Valley.

Picking fresh cherries is just the first step. Here, visitors slow down to experience every stage of coffee making -- from drying and roasting to tasting and cupping -- and even create small souvenirs from coffee beans, making the journey as memorable as the drink itself.

"I've been drinking coffee for a long time, but I've never really understood how it's made, so this experience is really interesting," said Wang Han, a tourist from Shanghai

China is becoming one of the world's major coffee-consuming markets. That rising appetite is fueling the development of the domestic industry.

In producing regions like Pu'er, coffee harvests are shifting -- from supplying raw materials for global coffee brands to producing higher-quality, premium beans.

Now, by integrating coffee production with tourism, new opportunities are being created for local farmers.

"Before, we only grew a little coffee, some corn, and raised a few pigs, so our income was limited. Now, my wife works on the project and also runs a tie-dye business with them," said Huang Yubing, a local farmer.

Huang has also been experimenting with what he calls "Bao Bao Coffee," roasting beans in a popcorn machine for a unique flavor. He said his sources of income have become far more diversified.

From the hills of Pu'er to the first cup of the year, coffee is changing how people travel, unwind, and reconnect with the land, while quietly transforming the lives of those who grow it.

Coffee tourism booms in southwest China during New Year holiday