SELF-SERVICE tax refund machines officially went into operation at Luohu Checkpoint and Shenzhen Bao’an International Airport on Monday, providing a streamlined, automated solution for departing overseas travelers to claim value-added tax refunds on goods purchased on the Chinese mainland.

The initiative launched at 9 a.m. with the deployment of two terminals at Luohu Checkpoint. Developed by the Shenzhen Branch of the Bank of China, these first-of-their-kind machines integrate identity verification, document inspection, and fund settlement into a single interface, offering support in 13 languages.

“The introduction of these self-service terminals will be particularly valuable during peak travel seasons and holidays, significantly reducing wait times,” said Wang Haiwei, head of the development team at the bank.

The technology’s efficiency was immediately apparent. Ms. Qu, a traveler from Hong Kong and the machine’s first user, completed her entire refund process in just two minutes and 23 seconds. “It is incredibly fast and convenient,” she noted. “The Cantonese voice prompts were a very thoughtful touch.”

Beyond supporting traditional bank transfers and third-party payment platforms, the machines introduce an innovative “digital yuan hard wallet” option. This allows travelers to receive their refund on a physical, prepaid e-CNY card. These cards require no internet connection, support tap-to-pay transactions, and can be used immediately for retail purchases or public transportation.

Mr. Li, another Hong Kong resident, became the first person to receive the digital yuan hard wallet from the machine. “I’ve heard it works for both shopping and bus rides. I am looking forward to testing it out,” he said.

The rollout comes amid a massive surge in duty-free shopping. According to Shenzhen Customs, the city processed 68,000 refund transactions — a 13-fold year-on-year increase — serving travelers from over 160 countries and regions.

(SD News)