Rainbow Shopping Center at 108 Xintang Road, Jianggan district, Hangzhou [Photo/IC]

The first group of trade companies in Hangzhou, capital of East China's Zhejiang province, started implementing a departure tax refund scheme on July 1.

Twenty-eight companies were included on the list, including Intime Department Store, Hangzhou Tower Shopping City and Lixing Group.

According to the departure tax refund scheme, foreign visitors will receive a value added tax (VAT) refund for products they buy at tax refund stores when they depart from the port of departure.

A representative at the Hangzhou commerce authority said that implementing the departure tax refund scheme will propel Hangzhou to become an international consumer hub.

Since 2015, the local authorities in Hangzhou have been making continuous efforts to put the scheme into practice in the city.

The local commerce authorities revealed that they aim to set up 100 departure tax refund stores before the year's end.

Overseas visitors who have lived on the Chinese mainland for no more than 183 days are eligible for an 11 percent VAT rebate on consumer goods purchased at designated department stores.

The minimum purchase is 500 yuan ($71) at any single store on a single day. The refund is valid when the purchase is made within 90 days before departure and the products remain unused upon departure.

The first group of stores implementing the tax refund scheme are as follows:

Shangcheng district

Hangzhou Lixing Group

Hangzhou Jiebai Group

Hangzhou Shidai Yijia Meiyue Department Store Co Ltd

Hangzhou Gonglian Tower Co Ltd

Hangzhou Baisixiang Trade Co Ltd

Hangzhou Second Branch of Hermes (Shanghai) Trade Co Ltd

Hangzhou Branch of Giada

Hangzhou Dongpolu Branch of Jimmy Choo (Shanghai) Trading Co

Hangzhou Shangcheng Branch of Victoria Secret

Hangzhou Branch of Chrome Hearts (Beijing)

Louis Vuitton (China)

Hangzhou New Hubin Commercial Development Co Ltd

Hangzhou Hubin International Commercial Development Co Ltd

Hangzhou Xinlongxiang Commercial Development Co

Maoyuanchang Glass Co Ltd

Hangzhou Yinxi Department Store Co Ltd

Xiacheng district

Zhejiang Intime Department Store

Hangzhou Yinyao Department Store

Hangzhou Tower

Zhejiang GDA Group

Baida Group

Hangzhou Fourth Branch of Xiaomi Fans Club

Jianggan district

Hangzhou Intime Century Department Store

Hangzhou Wensly Silk Culture Co Ltd

Hangzhou Sasseur Group

Hangzhou Second Branch of Xiaomi Fans Club

Gongshu district

Hangzhou Tower Commercial Retail Co Ltd

Xihu district

Zhejiang Meicheng Digital Technology Group