On April 15, 1954, under the concern of Premier Zhou Enlai and upon approval of the Government Administration Council, China International Travel Service Head Office was officially established, indicating the birth of the international tourism in New China.

In 1984, China Duty Free Group Corporation was founded upon approval of the State Council and authorized by the Central People's Government to operate and manage the duty-free sales at ports of Chinese mainland according to the government's "four-unity" duty-free policy.

In 1999, according to the Overall Guideline and Particular Implementation Program for Unhooking Non-financial Enterprises from Central Party and Governmental Organs, CITS Head Office and CDFG were unhooked from the previous competent ministry China National Tourism Administration ??and included in the direct management of the Central People's Government.

On December 19, 2003, upon approval of State Council and SASAC, China International Travel Service Head Office and China Duty Free Group Corporation carried the restructure to form CITS GROUP CORPORATION.

On June 7, 2004, SASAC included CITS GROUP CORPORATION in the first group (seven enterprises) of central-government enterprises as the pilot units for establishing and improving the board of directors in the state-owned companies.

On September 16, 2004, the CCP Committee of SASAC promulgated an notice for establishment of temporary CCP Committee of CITS GROUP CORPORATION, appointing Gai Zhixin as secretary and Zhang Beiying and Yang Jianyuan as the deputy secretary; establishment of CCP Discipline Inspection Committee of CITS GROUP CORPORATION, appointing Yang Jianyuan as the secretary. Meanwhile,SASAC promulgated a notice for establishment of Board of Directors of CITS GROUP CORPORATION, appointing Gai Zhixin as Chairman and Zhang Beiying as Vice Chairman.

On October 11, 200, upon approval of SASAC, Board of Directors of CITS GROUP CORPORATION appointed Zhang Jianhua as President of CITS GROUP CORPORATION to form the management of the Corporation. On October 18, Board of Directors of CITS GROUP CORPORATION engaged the management of CITS Head Office with Zhang Jianhua as General Manager and the management of China Duty Free Group Corporation with Li Gang as General Manager.