The 2026 Shanghai Summer International Consumption Season, now in its third year, aims to attract more international visitors by expanding consumption opportunities and enhancing service quality, officials said at the event’s launch on Friday.
Scheduled to run from July through October and encompassing key holidays such as the Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day, the season will showcase major sporting events, including the Rolex Shanghai Masters 2026, an ATP 1000 tennis tournament, and the Shanghai leg of the 2026 Motocross World Championship. These activities are expected to draw inbound tourists and stimulate increased spending in the city.
Yuan Xiaoming, assistant minister of commerce, emphasized that the event focuses on integrating business, tourism, culture, and sports to create new consumption scenarios. Shanghai’s open business climate and regional advantages are seen as conducive to developing fresh consumer experiences that not only attract overseas visitors but also provide a model for other Chinese regions.
Cui Jian, deputy head of the General Administration of Sport of China, highlighted the role of sports events as a significant attraction for foreign tourists, which can drive additional consumption. He noted that new business models in Shanghai will offer a broader range of options tailored specifically for international travelers.
To improve the visitor experience, Shanghai plans to upgrade services related to transportation, accommodation, dining, digital facilitation, payments, and tax refunds. Liu Min, deputy director of the Shanghai Municipal Commission of Commerce, said the all-in-one travel app HiChina will enhance its services for international tourists staying in the city, and navigation app Amap will integrate Shanghai’s notable shopping destinations seamlessly into travel itineraries.
Additional digital innovations include an upgraded Easy Go platform, launched last year in partnership with Alipay, which will incorporate artificial intelligence to better support multilingual user commands and provide intelligent services such as ride-hailing, ticket booking, and translation. A new mobile platform for departure tax refunds will allow travelers to complete the entire process digitally, from receipt verification to instant refunds.
Shanghai Pass, a prepaid card introduced in 2025, has expanded its offerings with a QR code that grants access to 150 local art galleries and museums. Sun Yao, general manager of Shanghai City Tour Card, noted that overseas visitors can apply for the digital service before arriving and use it for transportation not only within Shanghai but also in more than 300 other cities nationwide.
Citing the positive impact of visa-free policies, Chu Xiaobo, director of the Shanghai Museum, observed that foreign visitors account for at least 10 percent of the museum’s annual attendance. He added that many travelers also visit surrounding cities, supporting regional economic growth.
Nicolas Villemot, global head of consumer products at Bain & Company, pointed to Shanghai’s unique blend of local cultural elements, such as the traditional Shikumen architecture, with modern consumption offers as a distinguishing feature that enhances the city’s international appeal among global metropolises.