A T-Shirt, a Bag of Blind Boxes and a Tax Refund Form: Global Buyers Get Their “GZ Haul” in Guangzhou

City Life | During the break between Phases 1 and 2 of the 140th Canton Fair, Guangzhou’s shopping districts are buzzing with international shoppers. Overseas buyers are making their own “GZ hauls,” with a last-minute T-shirt purchase, bags of YOYO blind boxes and departure tax refund receipts emerging as a shopping trio in their luggage. UNIQLO stores offer a refund-upon-purchase service, with some overseas shoppers returning to buy more after receiving their refunds. At MINISO LAND, YOYO blind boxes are proving popular with visiting buyers. Under the “Fair 2 City” initiative, more than 1,600 tax-refund shops and 2,500 merchants across Guangzhou are participating in efforts to connect the trade fair with the city’s retail scene. During the Canton Fair, Guangdong issued 35,000 departure tax refund receipts, with related sales exceeding RMB 140 million. The figures offer a glimpse of how international trade visitors are bringing their spending power to the city’s shopping districts. #citylife

140届广交会一期落幕、二期未开的撤换展"空档"里，广州商圈率先进入"国际时间"。外国采购商开启"GZ Haul"扫货模式：一件应急短袖、一袋YOYO盲盒、一张离境退税单，成为行李箱里的"广州三件套"。优衣库门店导入"即买即退"，外商现场退税后转身再买；MINISO LAND的YOYO盲盒被成袋拎走。全市超1600家退税商店、2500家商户联动"Fair 2 City"，广交会期间广东离境退税开单3.5万份、销售额超1.4亿元，"进货式旅游"背后，是开放可感的城市消费力。

记者：孙绮曼