Gedian National Economic and Technological Development Zone Launches New Departure Tax Refund Stores, Offering International Visitors a Convenient and Cost-Effective "China Shopping" Experience

Produced by Xiang Peiyu

"High-quality products, great prices, and excellent service — the shopping experience at Florentia Village Wuhan is fantastic. Everyone should come and see!" Recently, an upgraded departure tax refund policy was implemented in the Gedian National Economic and Technological Development Zone in Hubei. As a registered departure tax refund merchant, Florentia Village Wuhan can now offer eligible overseas travelers immediate Value-Added Tax (VAT) refunds through an instant refund service. Sena, an international visitor from Turkey, came to try it out and left with bags full of goods.

At the end of April, China further optimized its departure tax refund policies and services by lowering the minimum purchase threshold, increasing the cash refund limit, and expanding the range of participating stores and products. These measures have been widely welcomed by international consumers and retailers. Official data shows that in the first half of this year, nationwide tax refund sales increased by a notable 94.6% year-on-year.

As a national-level economic development zone, Gedian regularly welcomes a large number of international business visitors. The introduction of departure tax refund stores meets their growing demand for purchasing high-quality Chinese products after business engagements, enriching the overall consumption experience. Dong Gang, Deputy Director of the Economic Development Bureau of the Gedian National Economic and Technological Development Zone, noted, "This initiative not only enhances the vitality of local consumption and elevates our international image, but also supports our goal of building a high-speed rail business district, positioning Gedian as an ideal destination integrating business, transportation, and premium tax refund shopping."

Drawing on its rich experience in operating outlets and tax refund services in multiple cities, Florentia Village Wuhan quickly embraced the new policy after its rollout in Hubei. According to Zou Qiong, Retail Manager at the outlet, the village has implemented the instant refund system and is enhancing its tax refund counters with multilingual support to ensure a smooth and convenient experience for international visitors. Sena praised the new system, saying that the combination of high-quality products, great deals, and seamless service made her “China Shopping” experience completely “stress-free.”

Gedian is committed to fostering a law-based, market-oriented, and internationalized business environment, while also building a foreigner-friendly living and shopping experience. To the east of China’s Optics Valley, a vibrant new regional consumption center is rapidly emerging — “open Gedian” is ready to welcome the world.