CHINA. China Duty Free Group (CDFG) yesterday (25 September) celebrated its latest downtown duty-free store opening in Chengdu, Sichuan.
Located at Yanlord Landmark Plaza in Chengdu’s central Jinjiang District, the 3,000-plus sq m venue is the city’s first downtown duty-free store and has been jointly developed by CDFG and the Jinjiang District Xingjin Commercial Investment Company.
“The Chengdu downtown store will continuously tell Chengdu stories to an international audience and help travellers discover the charm of Sichuan through immersive shopping experiences”
CDFG said the opening marks a significant milestone in the Sichuan capital’s journey toward becoming an important consumption hub.
China Tourism Group Duty Free Corp Chief Accountant Jin Hongyan attended the grand opening ceremony alongside provincial, municipal and district officials, as well as industry guests and media representatives.
This is one of the eight new pre-departure downtown duty-free locations approved by the China State Council in accordance with the new policy that came into effect on 1 October 2024. CDFG subsequently bid for and won the rights to operate the Chengdu store this January.
The Chengdu downtown store primarily serves Chinese and international travellers with valid documents who are scheduled to depart the country via air or international cruise within 60 days (inclusive). The store also offers an instant tax-refund service, aimed to further streamline the duty-free retail experience for departing visitors and boost spending.
CDFG said the Chengdu downtown store serves as a duty-free model project for the Chengdu-Chongqing Twin City Economic Circle, with the goal of encouraging the repatriation of overseas consumer spending and advancing the national ‘dual circulation’ development strategy in western China.
“The opening helps inject fresh momentum into the regional economy, significantly elevate Chengdu’s status as a core consumption hub, and strengthen this inland region’s ability to connect with global resources and compete internationally,” the company added.
Occupying a prime location in Chengdu’s central business district, the store represents a key effort to explore innovative retail models that integrate ‘duty free + duty paid’, ‘offline + online’ and ‘international + domestic’ offerings, CDFG added.
The store’s duty-free section features an array of renowned international brands across popular categories such as beauty and fragrances, wines & spirits, fashion, watches & jewellery, as well as travel accessories.
The duty-paid section brings together a diverse mix of offerings, including Chinese beauty brands, toys, and health and wellness products, and even has a whisky tasting bar.
By integrating elements of Sichuan culture, the store also shines a light on premium local specialities such as Sichuan liquor and delicacies, and creative products inspired by Sanxingdui, a Bronze Age archaeological site located in Sichuan.
The panda-themed ‘China-chic’ zone focusing on high-quality domestic brands and products, traditional and artisanal handicrafts, is another highlight.
CDFG hopes that by creating a retail scenario that fuses an international vision with local characteristics, it will successfully transform cultural heritage into consumer appeal and support the broader initiative to promote Chengdu-made products beyond the province and onto the global stage.
To celebrate the opening, CDFG has launched a series of promotional offers. Shoppers receive instant-use vouchers upon entering the store, and those who join the CDFG membership programme onsite will enjoy an exclusive CNY666 (US$93.30) coupon package, both of which can be used in a wide range of categories.
“As a key pillar in Chengdu’s development as an international consumption hub, the downtown duty-free store serves not only as a platform for global retail products, but also as a new window for showcasing local culture and heritage in a contemporary and compelling way,” CDFG commented.
“By leveraging the global resources and channel strengths of CDFG and our parent company China Tourism Group, the Chengdu downtown store will continuously tell Chengdu stories to an international audience and help travellers discover the charm of Sichuan through immersive shopping experiences.
“We look forward to seeing it continue to expand its influence and drive regional consumption, accelerating the development of a world-class retail destination that is rooted in western China and connected with the world,” CDFG concluded. ✈
