It's been four years since China made the move to approve Shanghai, Beijing, Guangzhou, Tianjin and Chongqing taking the lead as developing international consumption center cities. He Yadong, spokesperson for China's Ministry of Commerce, told Thursday's press conference that the initiative has hailed positive outcomes.

Since April this year, He said the total number of tax refund stores in Beijing and Shanghai both exceeded 1,400, with Guangzhou surpassing 500, driving a 94.6 percent increase in the sales of outbound tax refunds nationwide in the first half of the year. "China Shopping" has become a hot topic as well.