Hangzhou is making shopping even more rewarding for international tourists with its upgraded instant tax refund services, local media outlets reported.

At the tax refund center in Hangzhou Tower's Building B, German tourist SiHao had just bought some Longjing tea to take home. "I love Hangzhou's tea, and now I can get an immediate 9-percent tax refund — it's a great deal," he said, smiling.

Hangzhou Tower, a popular shopping destination for international visitors, launched its Instant Tax Refund Purchase service in 2024 as one of the city's first pilot locations. According to staff, many tourists return to the store to continue shopping after receiving their cash refund on-site.

The service applies to eligible goods like clothing and cosmetics — not food — and refunds up to 11 percent of value-added tax. Tourists must meet conditions such as a minimum spend of 200 yuan ($27.7) per store per day, departing from Hangzhou International Airport within 25 days of purchase, and carrying the goods out of China unused.

Hangzhou remains the only city in China offering tax refunds directly to Alipay accounts. In 2024, tax-free sales in the city reached 110 million yuan, with a 130-percent increase year-on-year, showcasing the growing appeal of "Made in China" to the world.