China's State Council on Wednesday released a document formulated by the Ministry of Commerce to accelerate the transformation of certain cities into international consumption centers, creating attractive destinations for foreign and domestic consumers to come and spend their money.

The document states that China will speed up the transformation of Shanghai, Beijing, Guangzhou, Tianjin and Chongqing into such centers, prioritizing streamlined entry policies and high-quality consumer experiences.
Unilateral visa-free entry will expand to citizens from more countries, while transit visa exemptions across the five cities will be optimized for efficiency. Foreign visitors will benefit from integrated services at entry points, including multilingual guides, telecom packages, currency exchange, and easy access to mobile payment platforms.
To attract international travelers, the cities will add more direct overseas flights and ensure broader acceptance of foreign bank cards and overseas e-wallets. Authorities also plan to establish "international consumer clusters" and "foreigner-friendly business districts" to centralize premium retail and cultural offerings.
The policy also urges swift launches of approved urban duty-free stores and encourages domestic suppliers to stock these outlets. Simplified tax refund processes, including "instant refunds upon purchase," are also planned to enhance convenience.
"We are accelerating proactive openness by expanding visa-free entry to attract global tourists. Through streamlined entry procedures, payment conveniences, and improved amenities in these five cities, we aim to draw international consumers to the Chinese market and foster deeper cross-cultural exchanges," said Wang Wei, Senior Researcher at the Development Research Center of the State Council.