Xi'an is now accelerating the establishment of tax refund points for departing visitors, enhancing the convenience of international payment systems, and fostering a first-launch economic ecosystem – further boosting its global appeal.
The Xi'an Downtown Duty-free Shop on South Street. [Photo/Xi'an news network]
Xi'an's Downtown Duty-free Shop officially opened at the end of November last year. It offers a "shop in the city, pick up at the airport" service for both domestic and international travelers departing from Xi'an within 60 days. With an innovative model combining duty-free shopping, cultural tourism, and consumption, the store aims to redirect overseas spending back to the domestic market, attract foreign visitors to shop, and inject momentum into Xi'an's efforts to become a distinctive international consumption hub.
On the store's opening day, a tour group from Malaysia visited, with many travelers making purchases. Shoppers were particularly impressed by the attractive prices, wide variety of products, and convenient payment options.
Customers shop at the Xi'an Downtown Duty-free Shop. [Photo/Xi'an news network]
Xi'an's steadily growing consumption momentum and increasingly solid commercial foundation have also earned significant recognition. On Nov 20 last year, the Ministry of Commerce and the Ministry of Finance jointly announced the list of "Pilot Cities for the Development of an Internationalized Consumer Environment", with Xi'an among the 15 cities selected.
This recognition signifies the national-level acknowledgment of Xi'an's strategic role in the field of consumption and provides strong support for its aspiration to become a higher-level international consumption hub.
The central government will provide differentiated financial support to the pilot cities, while the two-year pilot program will focus on strengthening the "Shop in China" brand by enriching the supply of goods and services, developing innovative international shopping experiences, and optimizing consumer services. The goal is to create a convenient and comfortable shopping environment, enhancing its appeal to international tourists.