Double Five and other events expected to fuel increased consumption, aiding city’s economy

The Double Five Shopping Festival in Shanghai this year, which started on April 30 and spans key consumption festivals in the coming weeks, is expected to underpin the metropolis’s efforts to build an international consumption center.

“During the annual event, a series of in-depth integrated activities will be staged, covering culture, commerce, tourism, sports, and exhibitions. Consumers will be presented with abundant supplies of high-quality products and services, while enjoying extensive promotions in a wide spectrum of sectors,” said Shen Weihua, director of the Shanghai Municipal Commission of Commerce, during a news conference on April 24.

“This year’s Shopping Festival is set to be a landmark event as Shanghai is growing into a global consumption hub,” Shen added.

In its seventh edition, this year’s Double Five shopping festival boasts features including debut economy, themed activities, and consumption boosting, according to Shen.

To further explore its potential in debut economy, this year’s festival looks to extend the momentum of the “First in Shanghai” event series that started in late March in sectors of cosmetics, jewelry and consumer products.

“More than 30 new products under 27 British cosmetic brands will make their product debuts under the British themed beauty season. The products covering fragrance, makeup, skincare, and personal care will conduct activities such as brand interactions, beauty experiences, and themed salons,” Shen said.

Since proposing to develop itself into a global hub for product debuts in 2018, Shanghai has been a pioneer in debut economy, attracting a total of 8,472 first stores at various levels to open across the city over the years, according to the latest report by the Development Research Center of the State Council.

In 2025 alone, 1,093 first stores were launched in the city, including 16.8 percent of Asia-first or global-first stores. Shanghai has also formed an ecosystem with a complete industrial chain, making it a national innovation hub for the debut economy, the report noted.

With the aim of covering all consumers regardless of age, gender, and nationality, the Double Five Shopping Festival also looks to facilitate inbound travelers with a better consumption experience, according to Liu Min, deputy director of the Shanghai Municipal Commission of Commerce.

“The number of departure tax refund stores has surpassed 2,000 as of the first quarter, and the sales revenue of tax-refund eligible goods has increased 65 percent year-on-year in the first three months this year, both of which show a rapid upward trend,” Liu said.

During the shopping festival, more convenient, intelligent, and efficient inbound consumption services are going to be introduced, allowing inbound tourists to enjoy a better consumption environment across the city, Liu added.

This year’s Double Five Shopping Festival runs through key consumption festivals including the May Day holiday, Mother’s Day, and Dragon Boat Festival, which is also known as Duanwu Festival.

More than 100 specialized activities are now being held throughout this year’s shopping festival period, which comprises the launch ceremony, 21 city-level key activities, as well as themed activities organized by the city’s 16 districts. 

Contact the writers at wang_ying@chinadaily.com.cn