ChinaPass中国生存包

🧾 Get your 11% back

Tax refund at departure

Get your 11% back

Reviewed 2026-09-07

Step by step

  1. Ask for the refund form

    Spend 200+ CNY at the same tax-refund store on the same day and ask for the refund form (tuì shuì). Try jimai jitui — instant refund in store.

  2. Keep receipts + goods

    Keep receipts + goods unused, packed in carry-on. You must depart within 183 days of purchase.

  3. Claim at the airport

    Use self-service machines (choose Alipay refund) before check-in.

    Done

Good to know

Refund rate is up to 11%. Ask for jimai jitui to get the refund instantly in store instead of queueing at the airport.

Frequently asked questions

How much back?

Up to 11% VAT on eligible goods (raised from 9%).

Minimum spend?

200 CNY at the same tax-refund store on the same day — lowered from 500 in the 2024 policy update.

Deadline?

Depart the mainland within 183 days of purchase, with goods unused and in carry-on.

Refund on the spot?

Yes — jimai jitui (refund-upon-purchase): credit-card pre-authorisation, cash back in store immediately. Or claim at the airport.

If something goes wrong

goods-checked-in

Customs won't verify the refund — your shopping is already checked in

Likely cause: Customs inspection happens BEFORE immigration. Goods over ¥10,000 must be shown unused, in original packaging.

What to do: Keep tax-free purchases in your hand luggage and finish customs verification before immigration. Not sure about big items? Ask the airline check-in counter — they see this daily.

missed-customs

You passed immigration — the refund is lost

Likely cause: Missing the customs check forfeits the refund permanently. No after-the-fact claims, no mail-in refunds.

What to do: Budget 30+ extra minutes at the airport: refund form + goods → customs desk (before border control) → refund counter. Cash up to ¥20,000, or back to card/Alipay/WeChat.

instant-refund-clawback

The “refund on the spot” money was charged back to your card

Likely cause: Instant refund (即买即退) is an advance against a credit-card pre-auth. Skip verification at departure and the chargeback lands.

What to do: Treat instant refunds as a loan: you still must complete customs verification when leaving China.

below-threshold

Refund refused — amount too small, or wrong airport

Likely cause: Since Apr 2025 the minimum is ¥200 at the same store on the same day (was ¥500). Refunds only process at your FINAL departure port.

What to do: Combine same-store, same-day receipts to pass ¥200. You keep ~11% (13% VAT minus ~2% fee). Fly out of the city where you shopped — a domestic layover airport can't process it.

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