BEIJING, Aug. 28 (Xinhua) — Overseas travelers will be able to visit more central duty-free shops in more Chinese cities, providing easy access to various consumer goods from Chinese fashion brands, according to an official statement.
According to the recently released provisional measures for the administration of duty-free shops in cities, one such shop will be opened in each of Guangzhou, Chengdu, Shenzhen, Tianjin, Wuhan, Xi’an, Changsha and Fuzhou.
The rules will also apply to six such stores already in place in Beijing, Shanghai, Qingdao, Dalian, Xiamen and Sanya immediately after they come into effect on Oct. 1, the ministry of finance, commerce, culture and tourism, the General Administration of Customs and the State Administration of Taxation said in a statement released Tuesday.
Another 13 foreign currency duty-free shops will be upgraded to city-center duty-free shops within three months of the new regulations being implemented, and will start operating after passing customs inspection.
The rules stipulate that shops in the cities are intended for travelers, including Chinese citizens, who will be leaving the country by plane or international cruise within 60 days.
These people can make their purchases in advance at these commercial establishments and collect their goods at the ports of departure.
The downtown duty-free shops will mainly sell consumer goods that are easy to carry, and sales of “fashion products” from domestic brands focusing on traditional Chinese culture will be particularly encouraged, the document said.
