The number of filing departure tax refund shops now stands at 326 in Guangzhou, 104 of which are under the jurisdiction of Tianhe district, accounting for 31.9 percent of the city's total and ranking first in the city.

The departure tax refund policy refers to when overseas travelers leave the Chinese mainland from the departure port, at which point they can receive a refund of any value-added tax (VAT) on the goods they have purchased.

In 2023, Guangzhou became the third pilot city in China, after Beijing and Shanghai, to conduct the instant departure tax refund service, which allows foreign travelers and compatriots from Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan to receive refunds directly from stores after purchasing items for which the tax can be refunded.

There are currently 10 stores in Guangzhou that offer this refund service, of which seven are located in Tianhe.

Vibrant Tianhe district at night. [Photo/thnet.gov.cn]

Tianhe has been making efforts to further expand its departure tax refund services. Measures include conducting targeted publicity for well-known brands in the district, bettering its services, and simplifying the handling process.

Huawei, DJI, and Lego stores in the district are among those offering departure tax refund services.