As space in downtown retail and business centers are filling up fast, commercial projects located further away or out of the downtown are gradually being targeted by new foreign retailers who do not want to miss the booming mainland retail market.

The Daning Life Hub in northern Zhabei District featuring retail space, office building, hotel, dining and entertainment outlets is one of them.

The 2-billion-yuan (US$250 million) project, scheduled to open in September, aims to attract 220,000 residents in a 2-kilometer radius. So far, over 70 percent of its 95,000-square-meter retail and entertainment space has been rented out to retailers including Gome Appliance, Watson's, Starbucks, Pizza Hut and brands such as Adidas, Swatch and Germany-based C&A.

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