Futian welcomes first international-friendly shopping area

Video and photos by Zhen Jianhong

More than 10 foreign residents and overseas influencers visited the Shixia Times Square in Futian District’s Fubao Subdistrict on the afternoon of June 4, in an event organized by Shenzhen Daily under the Shenzhen News Group Global Communication Center.

They experienced firsthand the convenience and thoughtful services brought by the development of an international-friendly shopping area.

A showcase of the first batch of 20 international-friendly merchants at Shixia Times Square.

From the outdoor Xiarili space to the shopping mall's interior, bilingual Chinese-English guidance is fully in place, including traffic separation signs, brand introductions, floor directories, information boards, warning signs, and self-service lockers, giving foreign visitors a truly barrier-free shopping experience.

International-friendly merchants at the shopping mall can be easily identified via an "International-Friendly Merchant" sign.

The shopping area has introduced its first batch of 20 international-friendly merchants. All of them have completed standardized upgrades and can provide bilingual Chinese-English menus and service lists. Their staff are able to serve customers in English, and overseas bank cards are accepted. Notably, both merchant staff and mall information desk personnel wear smiley badges to ensure they are easily identifiable to international visitors.

An expat customer pays his bill using a Visa card at the mall's information desk.

Dean Ancill from the U.K. said he used to live in the Shixia Community in Futian several years ago and was very familiar with the Shixia Times Square.

“Compared with before, this international upgrade has made shopping and getting around much more convenient. The bilingual signs are very helpful. With the APEC China 2026 set to be held in Shenzhen, having English-speaking staff will make it easier for global visitors to get around the shopping center,” he said.

The Shixia Times Square is the first officially certified international-friendly shopping area in Futian. It is also another upgraded showcase project following the first batch of international-friendly shopping areas launched by the Shenzhen News Group Global Communication Center in Qianhai in 2024.

Stanislau Kulaha from Belarus, a member of the foreign resident experience group, makes his

order in English at the beverage store NAISNOW.

As Shenzhen prepares to host the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting this year, Fubao Subdistrict in Futian has taken the lead in improving the city’s international consumption environment. A representative of the subdistrict said it will continue to promote bilingual upgrades and improve international service capabilities in existing commercial areas, while encouraging more shopping centers in its jurisdiction to transform into international-friendly ones.

Members of the foreign resident experience group pose for a group photo at Shixia Times Square.

The upgrading of shopping services is a vivid reflection of Futian’s ongoing efforts to improve its international business environment and steadily raise the city’s international service capacity. It also highlights the district’s determination to seize the opportunity of Shenzhen hosting the APEC meeting, deepen the development of international-friendly neighborhoods, improve supporting services and enhance the city’s international image.

Meanwhile, the Shenzhen News Group Global Communication Center, as a key platform for mainstream international communication, has also demonstrated the responsibility and contribution of the mainstream media in helping raise Shenzhen’s international profile and support the city's high-level opening-up.

Source: AmazingShenzhen