Film special
Hinews celebrates cdf Sanya’s amazing 11-year journey
The Moodie Davitt Report’s content partner has released a striking short film to mark cdf Sanya’s 11th anniversary, showcasing the retailer’s lasting impact on Hainan’s offshore duty-free sector.
Hainan Hinews, The Moodie Davitt Report’s content partner in Hainan province, has joined in this month’s 11th anniversary celebrations of the cdf Sanya International Duty Free Shopping Complex with a vibrant short film dedicated to the achievement.
Narrated in Chinese by Hainan Hinews Head of the Duty Free TV Channel Lu Tianqin, the film details how China Duty Free Group (CDFG) is honouring the landmark with a host of immersive events and shopping benefits.
Opened on 1 September 2014, the shopping emporium immediately set a new benchmark in offshore duty free and global travel retail.
What began as a 120,000sq m facility (ranking then as the world’s largest standalone duty-free store) has since expanded with Phase II (Hexin Island Project) in 2020 and the standalone Global Beauty Plaza in Zone C in 2023, attaining National AAAA-level tourist attraction status this April.
Lu notes how the complex has transformed Hainan’s duty-free landscape and redefined the boundaries of travel retail. “Its 11-year journey perfectly encapsulates the evolution of Hainan’s offshore duty-free sector and China’s broader consumption upgrade,” she comments.
In 2020, a revised offshore duty-free policy raised the per capita spending limit to CNY100,000 (US$14,000) and removed certain restrictions on individual item purchases.
Over the following five years, Hainan’s offshore duty-free sales reached a cumulative total of CNY195.8 billion (US$27.5 billion).
Capitalising on the momentum of this policy shift, cdf Sanya launched Phase II – the Hexin Island Project – in 2020, adding 65,000sq m of retail space.
This was followed by the opening of the acclaimed 78,000sq m Global Beauty Plaza in Block C in 2023. In April 2025, the complex was awarded National AAAA-level tourist attraction status.
“Driven by a powerful combination of favourable policies and bold innovation, cdf Sanya has undergone a remarkable transformation over the past 11 years – from a shopping mall into a premium experiential destination for retail, leisure, dining, entertainment and cultural enrichment,” Lu says.
“It now welcomes 92 million visitors annually and features nearly 400,000sq m of retail space, housing over 1,000 brands ranging from iconic luxury houses to emerging niche favourites.
“As Hainan prepares to implement its anticipated independent customs regime on 18 December, cdf Sanya remains steadfast in its role as a key force in driving regional development and repatriating domestic consumption,” she concludes.
cdf Sanya International Duty Free Shopping Complex: An experiential destination for retail, leisure, dining, entertainment and cultural enrichment
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The Moodie Davitt eZine
Issue 347 | 26 September 2025
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