As May Day holidays approach, Shanghai has kicked off the "Double Five" duty-free shopping festival. This year, organizers have issued coupons worth approximately 200 million yuan — about 29.2 million US dollars.

The festival is jointly organized by China's Ministry of Commerce, China Media Group, and the Shanghai Municipal People's Government. It is part of nationwide efforts to stimulate consumption — China has made expanding domestic demand a priority for its economic work in 2026.

Shanghai is one of the world's largest consumption hubs. And foreign tourists are playing an increasingly visible role here. Thanks to visa-free policies, more and more international visitors are arriving in the city. Local authorities are introducing new measures to encourage them to spend money in Shanghai.

"The Jing'an District, especially along West Nanjing Road, has always been a key destination for foreign tourists," says Xia Lin, Deputy Director of the Jing'an District Commerce Commission. "We already have over 800 stores supporting the duty-free shopping program. Our goal this year is to reach 1,000."

But it's not just about numbers. The district is creating a convenient "five-minute duty-free shopping zone." Self-service tax refund machines have already been installed on West Nanjing Road.

Pudong International Airport has also joined the effort.

"We have introduced exclusive duty-free shopping coupons that arriving passengers can use immediately after purchase," says Liu Xuelian, Director of the Consumption Promotion Office at the Pudong New Area Commerce Commission. "Because arrival times depend on international flights, we distribute these coupons in three daily time slots — early morning, before noon, and evening. This way, passengers on different flights can all benefit."

The "Double Five" festival is now in its seventh edition. This year, it covers five major areas: culture, exhibitions, tourism, sports events, economic development, and mass consumption.

The event will span two major holidays — May Day and the Dragon Boat Festival, which falls on June 19 this year (the fifth day of the fifth month of the Chinese lunar calendar).

Shanghai is betting that convenient tax refunds, generous coupons, and a well-developed duty-free shopping infrastructure will transform the city into a top shopping destination for foreign tourists in China. And judging by the scale of the festival, this bet looks well-placed.