On Aug 1, a Portuguese traveler at a Zhuhai duty-free mall became the first beneficiary of the city's innovative "refund-upon-purchase" service, receiving her refund within minutes. This milestone transaction marks Zhuhai's successful implementation of China's upgraded departure tax refund policy, offering unprecedented convenience to international visitors.

The revolutionary system allows tourists to claim advance cash refunds immediately after purchases by signing an agreement and providing credit card pre-authorization. The final settlement automatically completes upon their departure through designated ports after customs verification. The minimum spending threshold for eligibility has been reduced from 500 ($70.42) to 200 yuan ($28.16), making the policy more accessible.

As one of Guangdong's first cities to introduce a departure tax refund policy in 2016, Zhuhai has seen surging international arrivals under visa-free policies. Major shopping destinations like Huafa Mall and MixC now offer services and products including electronics, watches, cosmetics, and more. 

The city plans to expand the policy to more retailers and ports, cementing its position as a premier international shopping destination while enhancing the convenience of tax refunds for overseas shoppers.

A Portuguese visitor processes an instant tax refund at Zhuhai Duty-Free Mall on Aug 1. [Photo/WeChat account: zhxiangzhou]