Published on: 2026-10-20
Source: People’s Republic of China — Translation
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
During the holiday weekend dedicated to the founding of the PRC, Chongqing once again ranked among the country’s most popular tourist destinations. Alongside a surge in domestic tourism, the flow of foreign visitors increased significantly. Chongqing is consistently addressing gaps in servicing foreign consumers and enhancing the quality of service for overseas guests. This is manifested in instant tax refunds in shopping districts and seamless payment options for foreigners, as well as the widespread availability of establishments offering cuisine from various countries. All of this contributes to a new dynamic in the inbound consumption sector.
Tax refunds have become more convenient: shopping malls now operate on the principle “buy now — get your refund immediately.” Previously, foreign tourists had to queue for tax refunds at the airport. Now, in Chongqing, this service is provided directly in shopping centers: the tourist makes a purchase, immediately processes the tax refund, and the funds are credited to the account within seconds. In the first half of this year, 73 more stores offering tax refund services upon departure from the country opened in Chongqing — bringing the total number to 363. In addition, 28 new stores with the “buy now — get your refund immediately” feature have appeared, bringing the total number of such locations to 78. They cover all key shopping districts of the city and help increase the length of stay and spending volume of foreign guests.
Barrier-free payments: acceptance of foreign currency payments via QR code and cash exchange is implemented. Yuzhong District (Chongqing) serves as a city demonstration zone for enhancing the convenience of payment services: nearly 7,000 retail locations in the district accept foreign bank cards. Thanks to new models — “use of foreign e-wallets within China” and “linking foreign bank cards to Chinese payment systems” — foreign tourists can shop without needing to change devices or open new accounts; transactions are seamless. For tourists who prefer to pay in cash, a network of currency exchange points has been deployed in key commercial areas, tourist zones, and hotel clusters: they support the exchange of more than 20 major currencies. In 2025, Yuzhong District saw nearly 3.5 million transactions via foreign cards and mobile payment systems among foreign users, with total payment volume increasing by 137.54% compared to the previous period.
Taste knows no boundaries: diverse cuisine captivates the taste buds of tourists from around the world. Chongqing goes beyond the established image of a city known only for spicy and pungent food, consistently implementing projects such as the “Program for Opening the City’s First International Cuisine Restaurants” and “Presence of the Eight Largest Culinary Schools of China in Chongqing.” A bilingual map “Delicacies of Chongqing” has been published. In popular shopping districts and tourist sites, catering establishments are equipped with multilingual menus and staff fluent in foreign languages. Local hotpot restaurants are also actively adapting to guests’ requests: they offer options with moderate spiciness and non-spicy set menus, as well as install intelligent translation devices at ordering — all this makes the gastronomic experience more comfortable for foreign tourists.
Chongqing is creating an international consumer environment characterized by “shopping convenience, willingness to spend, and peace of mind when shopping”—thus strengthening the city’s reputation as an international consumption hub. According to the three-year plan to improve service quality for foreign guests, by the end of 2026, the usage rate of standardized bilingual signs in key zones of the central district will reach 95%. In addition, at least one hundred new stores offering tax refund services upon departure from the country are planned to open, along with more than a thousand establishments featuring diverse and distinctive cuisine. This will result in the city’s international consumption capability growing steadily.
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