On the afternoon of today (July 2), the Information Office of Shanghai Municipality held a press briefing. Zhu Min, director of the Shanghai Municipal Commission of Commerce, introduced the overall arrangements for the 2025 Shanghai Summer International Consumption Season. Liu Min, deputy director of the Shanghai Municipal Commission of Commerce, Cheng Meihong, deputy director of the Shanghai Municipal Administration of Culture and Tourism, Xu Kai, deputy director of the Foreign Affairs Office of the Shanghai Municipal People’s Government, and Xu Qi, deputy director of the Shanghai Administration of Sports, attended the press briefing and answered questions from reporters.The Shanghai Summer International Consumption Season is a signature city event aimed at boosting inbound consumption during the summer holidays. The inaugural edition delivered strong results: foreign tourist arrivals rose by 42.2% year-on-year, while total spending via foreign bank cards jumped by 68.2%. Since the start of this year, inbound tourism and consumption in Shanghai have maintained robust momentum. From January to June, the city welcomed 4.248 million inbound tourists, a 38.5% increase year-on-year. Sales of tax-free goods for tourists surged by 85%, with purchases under the “refund on purchase” scheme soaring 28.1 times compared to the previous year. This surge in inbound consumption is driving more diverse and dynamic market demand in Shanghai. The second edition of Shanghai Summer will continue to offer visitors a vibrant and joyful experience, full of color and leisure.The 2025 Shanghai Summer will center on the theme of “Making it easier for global tourists to come, enjoy and shop”, showcasing the city’s vitality and summer charm through a blend of events, products, services, and policies. Emphasis will be placed on internationalization in both event design and promotional efforts, as well as in enhancing the consumer environment. Tailored activities and specialized offerings will be created to cater to the preferences of tourists from key regions such as Japan, South Korea, Southeast Asia, Europe, and North America, further reinforcing Shanghai’s global standing as an international consumption hub.Focusing on “making it easier for global tourists to come”, the 2025 Shanghai Summer aims to offer greater convenience and more benefits for inbound tourists.In terms of mobility, China Eastern Airlines is providing over one million exclusive discounted air tickets for domestic and international travelers. Didi Chuxing’s "Shanghai Summer" taxi program will distribute more than one million ride coupons. The “HiChina” app, designed to help overseas tourists plan their itineraries, is now available in five languages: English, French, Japanese, Korean, and Spanish. Amap, the English version of AutoNavi Maps, will launch more than 10 versions in less commonly spoken languages. Meanwhile, Dazhong Transportation’s “Shanghai Summer Cool Travel Plan” will enable inbound visitors to pay fares directly using foreign bank cards via upgraded POS terminals.In terms of accommodation, more than 200 hotels under Jin Jiang International will roll out “Shanghai Summer” accommodation discounts. Marriott’s “Shanghai Summer” Marriott Bonvoy campaign will offer overseas guests instant booking discounts.In terms of dining, renowned as a global food capital, Shanghai offers a diverse culinary scene. Dianping.com will launch a multilingual “Summer Must-Eat List” in Chinese, English, and Korean to help international visitors discover the city’s gastronomic highlights. The platform will also provide special dining deals and set menus to enhance the food experience for overseas guests.Focusing on “making it easier for global tourists to enjoy,” the 2025 Shanghai Summer presents 10 flagship events and a “6+N” series of customized city activities.From July to August, the spotlight is on summer holidays and parent-child experiences. Highlights include: LEGO World Play Day festival, featuring global play-themed activities held simultaneously in cities like London, Berlin, and Boston; Shanghai Disney Resort’s summer celebration, introducing new seasonal experiences and limited-time product discounts; Shanghai Summer International Animation Month, connecting top-tier events such as CCG EXPO, Bilibili World, and ChinaJoy; Shanghai Tourism Festival’s Summer Travel Season, with multiple districts hosting themed weeks under “Happy Tour Shanghai, Happy Summer”; Shanghai Symphony Orchestra’s Summer Concerts, featuring performances by internationally acclaimed orchestras.From September to October, the focus shifts to cultural tourism and event-driven consumption. Key events include: Shanghai International Light Festival and 2026 Spring/Summer Shanghai Fashion Week, merging urban rhythm with cutting-edge fashion; the 2025 World Rowing Championships, ATP Masters 1000 Shanghai, and FISE World Series, showcasing Shanghai’s growing sports enthusiasm with world-class competitions.In addition, tailored activities will be launched around key brands and platforms, with an emphasis on oriental aesthetics, sports, and cultural experiences that appeal to international audiences. The first batch of six city-customized experiences includes: Lululemon’s “Summer Music Challenge” National Finals, transforming the city into a vibrant Summer Music Capital; Walt Disney’s Summer Carnival, featuring a series of themed IP activities; Yuyuan’s “Summer Garden Concert”, presenting the elegance of oriental lifestyle aesthetics; West Bund Central Summer International Cultural Carnival, offering a rich blend of multicultural interaction and consumer experiences; and Xiaohongshu’s “Shanghai Summer” Road Life Festival, highlighting the colorful lifestyles of various city districts.For international visitors enjoying Shanghai’s 240-hour visa-free transit policy, special themed travel products will be introduced. These include Spring Airlines’ “Shanghai + Qinghai” combo package and Ctrip’s exclusive “Shanghai Summer” campaign page, which offers complimentary city tour services, turning a short layover into an unforgettable Shanghai experience.Focusing on “making it easier for global tourists to shop,” Shanghai is creating an all-round “Oriental Shopping Paradise.”A wealth of local specialty products. Shanghai is bringing cultural and creative consumption to life. Pop Mart’s “Summer of Trendy Play” features a top-tier global exhibition of collectible toys and new product launches. A series of promotional events around Shanghai’s time-honored brands will also be rolled out, including co-branded “Shanghai Summer” themed products.World-class tax refund services. To enhance the tax refund experience, Shanghai is achieving full coverage of departure tax refund stores across the central urban area, supported by multilingual tax refund guides in 14 languages. For the first time, electronic payment platforms such as Alipay are being used for instant tax refunds. China Post’s Shanghai branch has launched dedicated departure tax refund packaging services for easier verification. Bank of China and China Construction Bank Shanghai branches are also offering exclusive shopping discounts for tourists claiming tax refunds.Diverse shopping perks and discount packages. Jiushi Group has introduced the Shanghai Pass, a multi-day ticket offering inbound tourists integrated discounts across transportation, sightseeing, shopping, and dining. Other promotional offerings include: Shanghai Summer themed co-branded cards and payment discounts by China UnionPay; Visa’s “Shanghai Summer – Payment Friendly Demonstration Zone”; Shanghai Pudong Development Bank’s “Summer Life” themed discount packages; and SMG’s “Come On” shopping vouchers for Shanghai Summer participants.Smart and seamless digital services. With support from Alipay, the city has launched “Easy Go” — a one-stop service platform integrating high-frequency needs such as dining, transportation, sightseeing, and shopping. Once registered via mobile, international travelers can access features like one-click ordering, unified QR code payments, and one-touch tax refunds.Starting now, the full schedule of the 2025 Shanghai Summer events is available through digital platforms including the I GO Shanghai WeChat mini program, Suishenban, and Government Online-Offline Shanghai.