On October 19, the first phase of the 138th Canton Fair concluded successfully with a tax refund service zone inside the complex for the first time. A series of tax refund measures has supported a surge in inbound consumption in Guangdong this year.
From January to September 2025, tax-refunded sales in Guangdong (excluding Shenzhen) surged by 133.83% year-on-year, while the number of refund transactions increased by 3.72 times.
Tax and commerce authorities have set up a dedicated tax refund service zone inside the Canton Fair complex, along with Guangzhou's third "Instant Tax Refund" centralized point. Overseas buyers who purchase souvenirs from the Canton Fair, the 15th National Games, or Guangdong, and reach the required amount, can now process tax refunds instantly.
A tax service station has also been established inside the venue to offer multilingual assistance for exhibitors and international visitors. The tax refund service brochures have been published in 17 languages.
Recently, Guangdong officially launched a cross-port recognition policy for the "Instant Tax Refund" service. Since October 1, overseas visitors who make tax-refunded purchases at designated stores in Guangdong can depart through any port within the province that offers tax refund services.
Convenient measures such as instant tax refunds at single stores and refund centers in business districts have shifted procedures from departure ports to the shopping scene.
The 138th Canton Fair, held in Guangzhou in three phases, covers a record exhibition area of 1.55 million square meters, with 74,600 booths, 4.6 million exhibits, over 32,000 exhibitors, and 290,000 overseas buyers, all hitting historic highs.
For more information on tax refund services:
A guide to the departure tax refund for overseas visitors
Guide for Canton Fair instant tax refund & shopping offers
Reporter | Dai Bosi
Photo | Guangdong Provincial Tax Service
Editor | Hu Nan, James Campion, Shen He
