Foreign tourists visiting south China's Hainan Province embraced the festive atmosphere as their travel coincided with China's National Day holiday, combining tropical sightseeing with duty-free shopping across the island's burgeoning commercial hubs.
The week-long holiday provided a major boost to local retail, driving a surge in offshore duty-free shopping during the island's first National Day "Golden Week" since the launch of special customs operations.
Offshore duty-free sales totaled 855 million yuan, or about 128 million U.S. dollars, from Oct 1 to 7, according to Haikou Customs. Nearly 700,000 items were sold during the holiday, while the number of shopping trips reached 123,000, up 10.41 percent year on year.
Hainan launched island-wide special customs operations in December 2025, creating a broader customs framework that allows overseas goods to enter more freely and expands zero-tariff coverage. The island's offshore duty-free program, which predates the new regime, allows eligible travelers to buy tax-free goods when leaving Hainan.
At a shopping mall in Sanya, foreign visitors browsed clothing, footwear, snacks, eyewear and smartphones.
"We ended up buying so much that we had to get an extra suitcase. We arrived with only two carry-on bags, but now we have another suitcase to take home. We bought lots of Chinese tea for our friends. The weather here is very pleasant and not too muggy. We also want to visit Beijing and explore the city. We really like China," said Russian tourist Liana Savarovskaya.
Other visitors highlighted the convenience of mobile payments and how quickly they could complete their purchases.
"We use Alipay, actually. It's quite smooth. I'd like to change my phone here," said Russian tourist Anastasia.
"It is the first time we are here, and it takes 30 minutes for us to buy everything. But we are going to come back here one more time," said Russian tourist Mike.
Brand choice, affordable prices and frequent promotions were also part of the appeal.
"There are so many brands to choose from, prices are reasonable and discounts are frequent. We are very satisfied," said Russian tourist Yevgenia.
Hainan duty-free malls draw foreign tourists as holiday sales hit 855 mln yuan
