"China Shopping" is quickly becoming a trendy choice for inbound visitors as China has been easing and optimizing the departure tax refund policy to make it more economical for foreigners to shop in the country.

As foreign visitors immerse themselves in China's rich cultural heritage, diverse landscapes and vibrant cities, they are also attracted by the competitive prices, high-quality goods and diverse shopping options available in the country.

"Be sure to bring an empty suitcase" has become the tongue-in-cheek travel advice on overseas social media platforms for those planning a trip to China.

China has introduced a series of measures since April to optimize its tax refund system for overseas visitors.

The policy optimization has included the establishment of instant tax refund counters in major shopping districts in cities such as Beijing, Shanghai, Chongqing, Chengdu and Guangzhou. Cities including Shanghai and Hangzhou have also introduced online refund options, making the process more efficient.

The continued optimization of tax refund services has better met overseas visitors' refund needs and further fueled their enthusiasm for traveling in China.

As of the end of November, there were 12,252 departure tax refund shops across the country, with more than 7,000 of them offering immediate refund upon purchase services, according to the administration.

China is also relaxing its visa-free policies, allowing for longer stays for overseas visitors. The favorable policies are translating growing inbound travel flows into consumption momentum and emerging as a fresh driver for inbound tourism spending.

Thanks to these beneficial policies, Huaqiangbei in south China's Shenzhen City, a hub for electronic components, received a daily average of over 7000 foreign tourists in the first half of this year, doubling the numbers recorded in 2024.

The number of overseas tourists claiming China's departure tax refund surged 285 percent year on year in the first 11 months this year, 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.