Guangzhou’s first downtown duty-free store officially opened its doors to the general public on August 26 at the Guangzhou Friendship Store in the heart of the Tianhe District CBD, attracting a stream of international visitors on its inaugural day.
The store is among the first batch of eight newly established downtown duty-free stores approved nationwide under a new policy guidance jointly issued in August 2024 by several government departments in China to enhance the duty-free business model.
The innovative shopping model allows eligible outbound travelers to purchase tax-free products with ease, up to 60 days in advance of their departure, with payment completed onsite and order collection available at designated departure ports.
General customers are also welcome to shop for a variety of taxable goods. If they meet the tax refund requirements, they can still apply for a tax refund at the store’s service counter.
On its opening day, the store welcomed its first foreign visitors, highlighting its appeal to international tourists and positioning itself as a convenient alternative to traditional airport duty-free shopping.
Amir Mohamed, a tourist from Egypt, expressed strong enthusiasm for the store’s product range and the opportunity for duty-free shopping while enjoying a day out in the city.
“The quality is good, prices are reasonable, and everything I need is available here. So there’s no need to go elsewhere,” he said.
“At the airport, you're always rushing. But here you can relax. You can come anytime and browse around whenever you want. No need to hurry.”
Ksenia, a Ukrainian tourist planning to visit family in Germany in two months, visited the store to compare prices and shop for gifts.
She specifically looked for products with Chinese characteristics, which she found lacking in airport duty-free offerings.
“For my grandfather, I want to buy Chinese alcohol like Moutai liquor. For my grandmother, a Chinese-themed bag. For my mother, I’m looking at clothes,” she shared.
Chinese-chic products.
Huang Yu, Vice General Manager of Guangzhou Grandbuy Co., Ltd., outlined the store’s strategic vision.
“We want to make it the last stop before leaving China, or the first shopping destination after entering China for international visitors.”
She emphasized the role of the store in promoting Chinese products to international visitors.
Chinese-chic products area.
A key advantage is that these Chinese products, previously only available with tax, can now be purchased duty-free or through an instant tax refund upon departure, she remarked.
The store's opening marks a significant step for Guangzhou in advancing toward becoming an international consumption center. With a growing number of international customers, the store has launched a series of convenience measures for foreign tourists.
These include dedicated transportation services to shuttle foreign tourists between the duty-free store and hotels, travel agencies, and the airport, according to Feng Kai, Deputy General Manager of CDF Downtown Duty-Free (Guangzhou) Co., Ltd., adding that when international visitors arrive at the store, multilingual shopping guides will also be available.
Reporter | Huang Xinyi
Photo | Qin Shaolong, Huang Xinyi
Video | Qin Shaolong
Editor | Hu Nan, James Campion, Shen He
