Duty-free shopping booms in Hainan amid int'l visitor surge

One month into the island-wide special customs operations, the Hainan Free Trade Port (FTP) in south China has seen a sharp rise in global tourist traffic and duty-free purchases, official figures showed on Sunday.

According to Haikou Customs, from Dec 18, 2025 to Jan 17, 2026, the duty-free sales supervised by customs reached 4.86 billion yuan (about 693.5 million U.S. dollars), up 46.8 percent year-on-year, and the number of shoppers rose 30.2 percent year-on-year to 745,000, showing sustained strong consumption vitality.

Data from the Haikou Entry-Exit Border Inspection Station shows that during the past month, Hainan ports inspected 186,000 foreign travelers entering and exiting the island province, up 46 percent year on year.

To accommodate the rising passenger traffic, border inspection authorities have comprehensively upgraded both software and hardware facilities to ensure efficient clearance processes and high-quality service.

"We are going to be staying there for a couple of nights, enjoying the beach and everything. No transfers, just straight [to Hainan]. It gives us a lot more time to look around here," said Mark, a U.S. tourist.

"We Thai nationals also get visa-free entry here for tourism purposes (with no need to transfer flights), which saves time and is very convenient. The police officers always try their best to assist us tourists," said a Thai tourist.

For many visitors, duty-free shopping has become an indispensable part of their itineraries. Especially since the launch of island-wide special customs operations, duty-free shopping has been exceptionally booming, highlighting the strong vitality and huge potential of Hainan as an international tourism and consumption center.

To better meet the diverse needs of tourists, Hainan's duty-free policy ushered in a new round of adjustments on Nov. 1, 2025. The categories of duty-free goods increased from 45 to 47, and the beneficiary range was expanded to include outbound travelers, attracting more international tourists to duty-free shopping.

"[The malls] are big, the pleasant prices, very modern, a lot of brands, and almost everything that I need," said Deanna, a Russian tourist.

In addition, the new duty-free policy has significantly lowered the purchase threshold for local residents. Under the policy, local residents with a departure record can purchase up to 15 "pick-up" items at any time throughout the year, which has also stimulated the shopping enthusiasm.

"This has led to the gradual expansion of duty-free shopping from an exclusive privilege for travelers to becoming a part of Hainan's local life. Meanwhile, the number of international visitors continues to grow steadily, significantly broadening the customer base," said Wang Ren'an, manager of the operations department of Haikou International Duty-Free City Shopping Complex under China Duty Free Group.

China on Dec 18 last year launched island-wide special customs operations in the Hainan FTP, the largest free trade port globally by geographical area, allowing freer entry of overseas goods, expanded zero-tariff coverage and more business-friendly measures.

Duty-free shopping booms in Hainan amid int'l visitor surge

An exciting wave of innovative winter tourism experiences is drawing visitors to the icy parts of China, as destinations transform ice and snow resources into immersive, experience-driven attractions that boost local consumption and development.

In Jiuru Mountain Scenic Area in Jinan City, east China's Shandong Province, towering icefalls formed by the area's canyon terrain and sustained winter cold create a spectacular frozen landscape.

Covering around 30,000 square meters, dense icicles and ice curtains hang like crystal glass, offering visitors a prime viewing season.

This winter, the scenic area has creatively incorporated fire elements, installing more than 100 stoves and log cabins throughout the park, creating a unique scene with "a stove available every few steps and a wooden cabin every 100 meters."

"The experience is really amazing and far beyond my expectations," said a tourist named Tian Yujuan.

Beyond sightseeing, the tourist attraction has also introduced more than 20 creative handicraft studios where visitors can make sachets and chocolates, while its snow play park that features ice sleds and snow tubing has become especially popular with families.

Since the New Year's Day, both visitor numbers and operating revenues at the site have more than doubled year on year.

In Yinchuan City, northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, local attractions are also expanding winter offerings through a "snow and ice plus" model.

On the Yuehai Lake, tourists wearing specially designed red protective suits float calmly in icy water in an activity known as "ice floating". The suits feature heat-locking inner layers and high-buoyancy outer layers, ensuring warmth and safety, while on-site photography services use drones and cameras to capture the experience.

"On weekends, I am willing to come to nearby cities to experience this kind of effortless relaxation. I find it quite stress-relieving," said a tourist.

In Pingxiliang Village, a small mountain village in suburban Urumqi, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, ice and snow tourism has become a catalyst for rural revitalization.

Once an extremely impoverished village, Pingxiliang has developed winter cultural tourism by leveraging local resources.

Nowadays, more than 80 percent of households in the village operate homestays, and 236 villagers work in tourism, with related income accounting for over 70 percent of the total revenue.

Meanwhile, at the Sayram Lake in Xinjiang, winter visitors are flocking to newly created blue ice waterfalls -- each about 10 meters high and covering a total area of 15,000 square meters.

Built by staff who erected supports and sprayed water starting in November, the frozen formations preserve the natural shape of cascading water, creating a striking man-made icefall.

Shared widely on social media, the blue ice waterfalls have become a new must-see destination for winter tourists to the Sayram Lake.

China's winter tourism blends ice landscapes with immersive experiences

China's winter tourism blends ice landscapes with immersive experiences