Shanghai Kicks Off Summer Shopping Season to Boost Tourism

Shanghai has officially commenced its 2025 Shanghai Summer International Consumption Season in the vibrant Xuhui district on July 4. This initiative is designed to attract global tourists and reinvigorate the city's tourism sector, creating a lively summer experience defined by accessibility, entertainment, and shopping opportunities.

The first half of this year demonstrated a remarkable rebound in inbound tourism, with Shanghai welcoming nearly 4.25 million international visitors, reflecting a noteworthy 38.5 percent year-on-year increase. This surge underscores the city's strategic efforts to position itself as a premier destination for travelers.

To cater to diverse tourists from regions such as Japan, South Korea, Southeast Asia, Europe, and the United States, the campaign is developing tailored activities and products. This approach aims to suit the varying preferences and interests of international visitors.

In a bid to enhance convenience for inbound travelers, China Eastern Airlines is rolling out over one million discounted tickets that cover both domestic and international routes. Such initiatives are likely to stimulate travel to and within Shanghai.

As part of this comprehensive effort, transport company Didi has introduced a ride-hailing program providing over one million coupons to tourists. Furthermore, navigation applications like Amap and HiChina are offering multilingual support, including English, French, Japanese, Korean, and Spanish, ensuring easy navigation for visitors.

Taxi operator Dazhong Transportation is also gearing up to facilitate international visitors by outfitting its vehicles with foreign credit card point-of-sale machines, thus streamlining the payment process for tourists.

These conveniences and benefits are accessible through Easy Go, a digital platform that unifies various services for international travelers. Powered by Alipay, this English-language platform supports real-time translation in 14 languages, enhancing the overall visitor experience.

Entertainment is a key focus for the summer season, with Shanghai hosting ten signature events alongside numerous custom activities. Family-friendly attractions will be highlighted in July and August, featuring events such as Lego's World Play Day and summer festivities at Shanghai Disney Resort.

July and August will also showcase the Shanghai Summer International Animation Month, including popular events like CCG Expo, Bilibili World, and ChinaJoy, further enhancing the cultural vibrancy of the city.

As autumn approaches, September and October will pivot towards cultural and sports tourism with an exciting lineup of events such as the Shanghai International Light Festival, Shanghai Fashion Week, the World Rowing Championships, and the ATP 1000 Shanghai Masters tennis tournament.

In addition to positioning Shanghai as a shopping paradise, the city will promote local products through initiatives like Pop Mart's Art Toy summer IP event and collaborations with established local brands. Tourists will also benefit from tax refund services, with guides available in 14 languages and refund capabilities via Alipay.

The concerted efforts reflect Shanghai's commitment to revitalizing its tourism economy while providing an enriching experience for visitors. Luo Bin contributed to this story.