Tourist shopping in China is undergoing a convenience revolution. According to the tax authority, the number of VAT refund claims filed by foreign visitors has soared nearly 13-fold over the past year, with refund amounts and total eligible sales both surging more than ninefold.

The driving force is a reform launched last April. China began allowing stores to refund tax at the point of purchase, freeing tourists from airport queues. Instant refund points have appeared in key cities including Beijing, Shanghai, Chongqing, Chengdu, and Guangzhou. Shanghai and Hangzhou have gone even further by introducing online refunds.

The network is expanding at a breakneck pace: more than 8,000 stores nationwide now offer instant cash refunds — double the number just a year ago. Industry analysts agree that the immediate refund mechanism turns a one-time purchase into an additional spending cycle, making a stay in China more comfortable and financially rewarding for international visitors.