Foreign tourists drive Shanghai sales of traditional Chinese apparel

Shanghai's consumer market witnessed a significant uptick during the National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival holiday, driven in part by an influx of overseas tourists drawn to culturally distinctive products. Among them, qipao — a traditional dress admired for its elegant cut and intricate craftsmanship — stood out as a particular favorite.

The Changle Road branch of Lomell, a luxury brand celebrated for its Shanghai-style qipao, reported that nearly 40 percent of its customers were international visitors. This surge in interest, fueled by the dual incentives of the tax refund policy for departing tourists and holiday shopping fervor, led to over 30 percent increase in sales since Oct 1 compared to the same period last year.

The brand manager highlighted that foreign customers showed keen interest in qipao culture, often asking about the craftsmanship and cultural significance of the dress. The majority of foreign visitors arrived with a clear intent to purchase, with approximately one-third completing a transaction.

The tax refund policy played a pivotal role in enhancing consumer willingness, effectively offering a 10 percent discount on products. Between Oct 1 and 5, the store's average daily sales exceeded 130,000 yuan ($18,260), with sales on Oct 5 alone surpassing 200,000 yuan.

Shanghai's overall tax refund statistics mirrored this upward trend. In the first eight months of 2025, Shanghai Customs processed 96,600 tax refund applications for departing tourists, involving goods worth 2.07 billion yuan — marking year-on-year increases of 168 percent and 83 percent, respectively, both surpassing 2024 totals.