Shenzhen's economic vitality is being reinforced by a remarkable rise in cross-border travel and consumer spending, with official data showing record-breaking passenger flows through the city's land ports and a sharp increase in tax-free shopping.
According to statistics from Shenzhen–Hong Kong port authorities, passenger traffic through Shenzhen's land ports surpassed 200 million as of Oct. 25 — reaching the milestone 40 days earlier than last year. The total included 100.67 million outbound and 99.57 million inbound trips, reflecting both the scale and balance of cross-border movement.
This booming flow of travelers is driving strong consumption momentum. Shenzhen's tax refund program for departing travelers has proven a key attraction, fueling robust growth in retail spending. In the first half of the year, the sales of tax-refundable goods surged by 160%, while processed refund transactions soared 390% year-on-year.
Homegrown Chinese brands from Shenzhen are at the forefront of this trend. Products from companies such as DJI and Huawei accounted for 34.5% of all tax-refundable sales — the highest share of any city nationwide.
The integration of the Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macao Greater Bay Area's "one-hour living circle," together with a rich lineup of cultural and tourism events, is also energizing the region's "night economy." In the first half of the year, evening passenger flows through Shenzhen's ports climbed 18% year-on-year, with the number of Chinese mainland residents and Hong Kong and Macao travelers rising by 25% and 14%, respectively.