The continuous expansion of visa-free policies has ignited a global "China Travel" frenzy; the highly efficient and convenient tax refund system for overseas visitors has propelled the popularity of "Shopping in China"; and foreign enterprises are accelerating their strategic layouts, demonstrating firm confidence in "Investing in China." In 2025, the convergence of human traffic, commercial flows, and capital streams is creating a powerful "China Gravitational Pull." The "China Travel" boom is palpable along the Huangpu River at night, where American tourist Lena excitedly video calls her family, showcasing the scenic views of Shanghai's Bund. On one side lies the dazzling urban skyline of Lujiazui, and on the other, the Bund's distinctive array of international architectural styles. "Shanghai is utterly captivating!" Lena shared, "The transit visa-free policy allowed me to embark on a spontaneous trip to China, which is the best decision I've made in 2025." Globally, "China Travel" has become an undeniable hot topic, with Shanghai regarded as a key window to perceive this surge. Data from the Shanghai Immigration Inspection Station reveals that the cumulative number of inbound and outbound passengers processed at Shanghai ports has exceeded 40 million, an 11.8% year-on-year increase, setting a new annual record since the "14th Five-Year Plan" period began. Behind this热潮 lies the solid support provided by China's continuous expansion of its "visa-free circle of friends." Since 2025, China has accelerated its opening-up efforts, extending the list to include Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Peru, Uruguay, and more. Concurrently, meticulous optimizations in entry services have added warmth; the policy enabling online pre-arrival registration for foreigners, implemented from November 20th, replaced cumbersome paper forms, streamlining the entry experience for international travelers. According to data released by the National Immigration Administration, visa-free entries by foreigners nationwide grew by 48.3% year-on-year in the third quarter of 2025. This impressive figure not only directly reflects the热度 of "China Travel" but also highlights the significant results of China's expanded openness, presenting to the world an open, inclusive, and dynamic China.
The "Shopping in China" trend is火爆. At Shanghai's Xintiandi commercial district, a Spanish tourist, after selecting gifts at a fragrance store, proceeded directly to a centralized tax refund point within the area. Using Alipay's "touch" feature, she completed the tax refund process seamlessly. In less than a minute, the refund was credited in real-time, prompting her to remark with a smile, "Such a smooth experience makes me want to explore more shops." As an international consumption hub city, Shanghai's "Shopping in China"热度 is particularly prominent. Data from the State Taxation Administration Shanghai Municipal Taxation Bureau indicates that from January to November 2025, the number of overseas visitors applying for tax refunds in Shanghai surged by 156.3% year-on-year, with both the sales value of refundable goods and the refund amount increasing by approximately 80%. This消费热度 is not unique to Shanghai. By the end of November 2025, customs in Guangdong Province had verified 93,000 tax refund application forms, involving refundable goods worth 1.75 billion yuan, representing increases of 7.5 times and 2 times respectively compared to the same period last year, showing substantial growth. In Shenzhen, 56,000 tax refund transactions were processed in the first 11 months of 2025, a 13-fold year-on-year increase, with the sales value of refundable goods growing by 2.4 times and the sales of "instant refund" goods surging nearly 40-fold. Blake Abbey, editor-in-chief of a fashion magazine residing in Shanghai, noted that building globally influential international consumption centers attracts world purchasing power not only through new products, technologies, and services but also through matching consumption convenience and innovation that leads global trends. Behind this lies a systemic reform that goes "far beyond consumption and remains largely unseen." The international appeal of China's消费 environment is effectively converting the流量 from "China Travel" into incremental gains for "Shopping in China." Data from the State Taxation Administration shows that in the first 11 months of 2025, the number of overseas visitors applying for tax refunds grew by 285% year-on-year, with both the sales value of refundable goods and the refund amount increasing by 98.8%.
The enthusiasm for "Investing in China" runs high. This summer, Valeo's new manufacturing base officially commenced operations in Shanghai's Jiading District. The new factory has already secured new orders, and its production capacity is set to ramp up further. Christophe Périllat, CEO of Valeo Group, stated that the construction of the new plant received strong support from China and Shanghai, emphasizing that "the high-quality business environment is a key reason for our decision to continue increasing our investments in Shanghai and China." In the biopharmaceutical sector, France's Sanofi has invested over 1.2 billion euros to establish a new biopharmaceutical base in China, focusing on advanced production capacity and clearly demonstrating its commitment to the Chinese market. In the new energy vehicle field, Japan's Toyota has located its new energy R&D headquarters in Shanghai, anchoring itself in local technological innovation and deeply integrating into China's new energy industrial ecosystem. From high-end manufacturing to R&D innovation, the investment directions of foreign enterprises resonate with China's industrial upgrade trends, speaking volumes about their unwavering confidence in the Chinese market. As a window to China's reform and opening-up and a hotbed for foreign investment, Shanghai has seen an average of over 5,700 new foreign-funded enterprises established annually since the "14th Five-Year Plan" period began, with nearly 80,000 foreign companies now rooted across various industries. Data from the Ministry of Commerce reveals that in the first 10 months of 2025, 53,782 new foreign-invested enterprises were established nationwide, a 14.7% year-on-year increase. The magnetic appeal of the Chinese market is robust and powerful; in an uncertain world, China remains the greatest certainty.
Comments