Marking Five Years of Chongqing’s Development as an International Consumption Centre City
In July 2021, with the approval of the State Council, Chongqing was among the first five Chinese cities selected to develop international consumption centres. Five years on, Chongqing has transformed its unique three-dimensional landscape of mountains and rivers into a canvas upon which international style and the vibrancy of everyday life in Bayu come together to create a vivid new picture.
Distinctive Consumption Experiences
Drawing on Chongqing’s distinctive natural landscape, the city is creating three-dimensional consumption experiences built around its rivers, cliffs, streets, caves and skyline. Clifftops, riverbanks, former air-raid shelters and elevated spaces are being transformed into distinctive destinations offering experiences found nowhere else in China.
Strong Industrial Foundations
Bringing Leading Brands to Chongqing, Taking Chongqing Brands to the World. Leading brands and strong local industries form the beating heart of an international consumption centre city.
From introducing international brands and expanding consumer choice, to strengthening local manufacturing and taking Chongqing products overseas, and developing distinctive cultural and tourism products inspired by Bayu culture – including Chongqing Gifts, Chongqing Flavours, Chongqing Creative and Chongqing Quality – the city has developed a powerful combination of initiatives to strengthen its consumer economy.
Home-grown Chongqing automotive brands such as Avatr and Seres have also performed strongly in overseas markets. By developing export platforms and expanding trade channels, products made in Chongqing are reaching global markets at an accelerating pace.
City Calling Cards
During the 2026 Sleepless Chongqing Lifestyle Festival, the city will invest approximately RMB 120 million, distribute food and dining packages and work with Taobao Flash Sale to launch a dedicated “Sleepless Chongqing Night Market” campaign. Visitors from outside Chongqing will also receive exclusive flash-sale voucher packages worth RMB 288.
The “360 Flavours of Chongqing” citywide culinary programme showcases the city’s diverse food culture. Chongqing’s catering revenue has grown by an average of 8.9% annually over the past three years.
A diverse range of tourism experiences, including Three Gorges sightseeing and health and wellness tourism in Wuling, has gained widespread recognition, contributing to steady growth in international visitor numbers.
Yuyue Services
Currently, 59,000 merchants across the city have POS terminals that accept international bank cards. International visitors can also make mobile QR-code payments by linking overseas bank cards to supported Chinese payment apps.
The Chongqing Municipal Commission of Commerce provides a one-off incentive of RMB 500 to businesses installing POS terminals that accept international cards, as well as RMB 20,000 for each new foreign-currency exchange point established.
Chongqing has established five centralised tax-refund points, reducing processing times from 20 minutes to less than two minutes. Eligible departure tax-refund stores can also receive financial support of RMB 3,000 per outlet.
Three defining city brands:
Sleepless Chongqing
City of Gastronomy
Mountain and River Tourism
three-tier payment system
Cards for larger purchases
QR codes for smaller payments
Cash always available
Photos Source: Chongqing Municipal Commission of Commerce, Starlight 68 Plaza