Shanghai Tax Services Boost Summer Economy as XR Tech Empowers Cultural Tourism

With summer arriving and the 2026 'Shanghai Summer' international consumption season fully launched, Shanghai's cultural tourism and shopping markets kept heating up. Shanghai's tax authorities have optimized services to help businesses seize summer opportunities. Digital cultural tourism and immersive study tours became new growth points: the XR flagship store of 'Empire Code: Terracotta Warriors' in Hongkou's North Bund combines XR digital technology, historical exhibits and Chinese-style cultural products. Since June, store sales rose nearly 70% month-on-month and foot traffic about 80%, with teenagers over 70% of visitors and rising group/family orders. General Manager Zou Wenmao of Haichuan Vision (Shanghai) said tax authorities proactively guided the store on invoice quotas, compliant filing and policy interpretation, helping it handle the summer surge. Elsewhere, Pacific Department Store in Xujiahui became 'New 600 YOUNG', with foot traffic up 20.8% and sales up 10.7% month-on-month thanks to markets and events. General Manager Huang Danni of Shanghai New 600 Commercial Management said the mall launched a summer-themed campaign targeting students, families and tourists. Changning's Cloud Nine city-life centre launched a 'Summer Youth Festival' with one-day and travel packages whose sales rose 18% and 45% year-on-year, with students and families exceeding 62%; the Pokémon official card gym drew over 300 teenagers daily, with card and figure sales up 43%. Accounting director Shao Qihui said the tax bureau ran point-to-point briefings on VAT and personal income tax. The Shanghai Tax Service said it will use tax big data to monitor cultural-tourism and commercial consumption and continue scenario-based, targeted tax guidance.