A foreign tourist poses for photos with flowers at a venue of the 2025 Shanghai International Flower Show in Huangpu District of east China's Shanghai, April 18, 2025. (Xinhua/Wang Xiang)

　　BEIJING, April 20 (Xinhua) -- At a bustling department store in Guangzhou, south China, a Singaporean surnamed Lee picked up more than just premium Chinese tea for friends and family -- he also walked away with a tax refund, pocketed instantly at the point of purchase.

　　“Super convenient,“ said the tech entrepreneur, who was in town for a tech fair, applauding China's new refund policy that spares international travelers the long queues at airports and puts money back in their accounts then and there.

　　China is expanding the coverage of instant tax refunds to improve the experience for international travelers. In Shanghai, the service has been available in about half of the city's tax refund partner stores.

　　The policy, extended nationwide on April 8, builds on a slew of recent efforts by China to boost global exchanges and mobility, such as easing its visa policies, enhancing payment accessibility, and streamlining customs clearance.

　　These shifts have made exploring the country easier than ever, fueling a surge in “China Travel“ content on social media platforms. For example, U.S. content creator IShowSpeed documented his kung fu journey at the famous Shaolin Temple in central China, captivating global audiences.

　　In 2024, China recorded 64.88 million border crossings by foreign nationals, an 82.9 percent increase year on year. In the first quarter of 2025, this number stood at 17.44 million, up 33.4 percent compared to the same period in 2024.