Where Chinese flock to buy Hong Kong goods: Shenzhen's free-trade zone

The CTF HOKO shopping mall, operated by a joint venture led by Hong Kong jewellery giant Chow Tai Fook Group, stands in the heart of the Qianhai free-trade zone, about a 30-minute drive from downtown Shenzhen. Qianhai, along with other six regions, are the first batch of pilot projects to reduce taxes charged for imported goods.

The initiative is part of an attempt by the Chinese government to shift the nation’s economy from an export and investment-driven model to a consumption-driven model. It has been gradually relaxing its consumption related taxes in the past two years.