"Pandas and bamboo forests are quintessentially Chengdu!" On Sept. 29, the arrival duty-free store at Chengdu Tianfu International Airport officially opened. As the largest arrival duty-free store in central and western China to date, its initial operating area exceeds 1,060 square meters. An on-site visit by reporters revealed that arriving or returning passengers can conveniently stop by the store immediately after collecting their luggage, offering a highly accessible shopping experience.

A Duty-Free Shop

The store is located in the international arrivals baggage claim hall of Terminal 1. After disembarking and retrieving their luggage, passengers can shop without any detours. Products on site are divided into three major categories: tobacco and alcohol, perfumes and cosmetics, and food, covering hundreds of brands and thousands of product types. Notably, some imported chocolates and beverages are relatively rare in the domestic market, while the tobacco, alcohol, and cosmetics sections feature numerous renowned brands.

For general travelers, the appeal of port arrival duty-free stores lies in their exemption from customs duties, import value-added tax, and consumption tax, often resulting in prices lower than those in domestic retail outlets. The shopping process is straightforward: passengers who have not yet completed customs entry procedures may enter the store using their boarding passes and valid identification, clearing customs after making purchases. It should be noted that the combined total of duty-free purchases made at the port and overseas must not exceed 8,000 yuan; amounts exceeding this limit will be subject to taxation upon clearance.

A Duty-Free Shop

On opening day, Diana from Russia became the first customer. She sampled a pink beverage mixed with Sichuan baijiu and repeatedly praised it as novel and interesting. Many foreign visitors at the scene took photos with panda-themed decorations, and both counter signage and complimentary gifts featured panda plush toys. Reporters observed that many products were marked with "flash sale prices", equivalent to discounts of 20% to 30%. For instance, the flash sale price for 53-degree Moutai liquor was just over 1,800 yuan, more than 300 yuan cheaper than on e-commerce platforms; Swiss imported chocolate was priced at 68 yuan during the flash sale, nearly half the price charged by purchasing agents.

A Duty-Free Shop

Travelers summarized their bargain-hunting tips as follows: tobacco and alcohol offer substantial discounts, with some premium baijiu varieties priced hundreds of yuan lower; imported chocolates boast diverse selections and competitive pricing; and perfumes and cosmetics should be purchased according to individual needs. Overall, most products carry discounts ranging from 20% to 30%. Staff members noted that special promotions such as spend-and-save deals and multi-item discounts are available during the opening period, including a 2,000-yuan discount on perfume and cosmetic purchases totaling 9,800 yuan or more.

Foreign tourists take photos at the entrance

Operated by a joint venture between China Duty Free Group and Sichuan Provincial Airport Group, the store marks Tianfu Airport's achievement of full two-way coverage for both departure and arrival duty-free shopping. Previously, there were no dedicated retail outlets for passengers after entry. The establishment of the arrival duty-free store transforms the arrivals hall from a mere transit corridor into a "final stop" for consumption, enhancing the airport's commercial quality and service standards while optimizing the travel experience. It also helps unleash inbound consumption potential and encourages the repatriation of overseas spending.

Complimentary Gifts

In recent years, international passenger traffic and cross-border consumption vitality at Chengdu's aviation ports have continued to rise. In the first half of 2026, Tianfu Airport handled 3.489 million international and regional passengers, up 14.6% year-on-year, while the volume of tax refund services for departing passengers surged 377% compared to the same period last year. Since the beginning of this year, Tianfu Airport has launched new and increased frequencies on multiple international and regional routes, bringing the total number of operational routes to 79. The operation of this arrival duty-free store is expected to further unlock passenger spending potential and enhance the value of cross-border consumption at the port.

Panda-themed signage inside the store

【本篇文字部分内容由 AI 辅助写作，特此声明。Please note: the text in this article was created with the help of AI.】