could someone please advise whether the VAT refund thing is at all existing in china?
all i was able to find is this (this)for the diplomatic missions, but how about the others? any chance?
(sorry didnt find it on this forum, if it was already clarified before)

Does China even have a VAT on most stuff? Time for an expert to chime in! Even if they do, I strongly suspect it would be next to impossible to get it back.

Would love to find out if I am wrong, because my kids bought some Rolexes there and.....

I have to say I've never heard of such thing.

China does not have a GST (or also known as VAT) refund scheme in place for ordinary foreigners, only those associated with foreign diplomatic missions can claim tax back on very limited goods - and the process is not that straightforward.

However, some foreign companies, particularly the multi-national ones or those investing more than a certain amount, may enjoy limited benefits on corp. taxes etc. as long as they reach an agreement with local government authorities and everything is within present laws in China.

In addition, some returning Chinese nationals, particularly those on student visas and have graduated from foreign higher education institutes, may be able to pay less taxes on very limited goods once they get back to China as long as they have the document issued by one of the Chinese embassies or diplomatic missions proving their status as a university graduate from that country or similar etc.

Regards.

VAT-

From my understanding its a business to business tax. If the product is
exported, then the export agent or business applies to the tax board
for a refund. Also the business gets a different foreign exchange rate
of say 8.5y to 1 USD instead of 7.8y to 1 USD. (maybe?)

Also I have noticed that when you go to a restaurant you can ask for some type of official receipt and use those for deductions..but I am not sure
if this is VAT.

Export subsidies in China are either gone or in the process of going. There are lots of places and ways by which foreign companies can get various tax breaks, but these are most commonly income tax breaks.

Yes, there is VAT, and no, there is no refund scheme. But why would you want to do any expensive shopping in China anyway?