Hainan eases duty-free policy

China's southernmost province, Hainan, will offer more kinds of duty-free items with a higher purchase limit, according to Xinhua News Agency.

A recent policy says that starting this November, non-residents leaving the island can make duty-free purchases twice a year if they spend no more than 8,000 yuan ($1,280) each time, up from the current 5,000-yuan cap, according to a statement on the website of the Ministry of Finance.

Hainan started to pilot the duty-free policy in April 2011, which allowed visitors to have tax rebates with a purchase limit of 5,000 yuan.

Customers read the shopping guide in the duty-free shop in Sanya, Hainan province, Oct 1, 2012. [Meng Zhongde/Asianewsphoto]