Departure Tax Refund Calculator
Rate applies to the invoice total including VAT. ¥200 minimum per store per day to qualify; refunds over ¥20,000 go by bank transfer. Assumes an eligible tax-free store purchase taken out of China unused within 90 days.
Verified Oct 28, 2026 — Rates per Gongbei Customs official page (11% / 8% incl. handler fee, ¥20,000 cash cap). Full rules: the refund guide.
Trip Budget Planner
Rough planning only, US$ conversion at an indicative ¥7.2/US$. Your real costs swing with city, hotel class and shopping appetite — think of this as a floor, not a ceiling.
Fast Facts Card
💰 Tipping
Not expected anywhere — restaurants, taxis, hotels. A handful of high-end hotel porters may accept one, but nobody will chase you for it. Service is included; the price on the menu is the price.
⏰ Time zone
All of China runs on Beijing Time (UTC+8) — no daylight saving, no regional zones. Sunset shifts a lot between east and west; Xinjiang "runs late" relative to the clock.
🔌 Power & plugs
220 V / 50 Hz. Sockets are Type A (flat pins), Type C (round pins) and Type I (angled) — a universal adapter covers all three. Your laptop and phone chargers are already 100–240 V.
📞 Numbers to know
110 police · 120 medical emergency · 119 fire · 12345 city service hotline (some cities answer English). Hotels have English-speaking staff — they will call for you if you can't.
🗣️ Five phrases that unlock things
Xièxie (谢谢) — thanks · Duōshǎo qián? (多少钱) — how much? · Fèipiào (发票) — receipt/invoice · Tuìshuì (退税) — tax refund · Búyàoj là (不要辣) — not spicy. Point-and-translate apps handle the rest.
🚰 Tap water
Not drinkable — brush your teeth with it if you like, but drink bottled or boiled. Hotel kettles are standard; bottled water is ¥1–3 at any convenience store.