A new tax refund service counter was recently opened in the western area of Zhangyuan, the popular historical and cultural block in Shanghai's Jing'an district.

The new facility allows international shoppers to enjoy a "refund-upon-purchase" service — making it more convenient to receive tax refunds in renminbi directly after shopping.

To enhance the tax refund experience, Zhangyuan is continuing to improve its services. Bilingual signage, convenient luggage storage areas and exclusive tax refund gift packages are among the measures being introduced to make shopping more convenient for international travelers.

The West Nanjing Road shopping area, where Zhangyuan is located, was one of the first areas in Shanghai to implement the departure tax refund policy. In 2024, Jing'an district recorded nearly 700 million yuan (over $95 million) in tax refund sales, ranking it first in the city.

Currently, Jing'an is home to 435 tax refund merchants, including luxury malls like Plaza 66, Reel Department Store, Jiuguang Department Store and Jing An Kerry Centre. These stores feature both top international brands — such as Hermes, Chanel, Dior, Louis Vuitton and Cartier — and local time-honored brands like Jing De Zhen. Product categories include fashion, jewelry, cosmetics and ceramics.

Jing'an district has also taken steps to support different payment methods by encouraging key retailers to install international card POS terminals. Now, all major shopping malls on West Nanjing Road are offering full coverage for foreign card payments.

To further accommodate global visitors, local malls are enhancing multilingual services and offering personalized experiences. For example, Plaza 66 has launched multilingual videos on the Xiaohongshu app to explain the tax refund policy, while HKRI Taikoo Hui has installed information guides and multilingual translation devices at concierge desks.

At Chinese designer brand store SHUSHU/TONG — located at JC Plaza — sales staff are fluent in English, Japanese and Korean. Meanwhile, the Rimowa store at HKRI Taikoo Hui, the only one in Shanghai with an in-store official repairs center, offers lifetime warranties — a key attraction for international shoppers.

All in all, the ongoing improvements are widely said to underscore Jing'an's commitment to creating a world-class shopping environment for overseas visitors.

Source: Official WeChat account of Shanghai Jing'an Media Center at "jaxwzx"