The evolution of shopping

More shopping malls are holding art shows and exhibitions to attract customers. GAO ERQIANG / CHINA DAILY

Brisk business

While the revenue of downtown shopping centers have been declining, malls located in suburban areas in Shanghai such as Jinshan, Jiading, Baoshan, Songjiang and Fengxian districts have in contrast posted positive growth over the past six years, according to a Shanghai Council of Shopping Centers report.

In Shanghai's suburban Jiading district, a new shopping mall has even managed to draw up to 20,000 customers daily after just a month of operations.

Launched by Taiwan-funded Sun Moon Light Center, the Jiading SML Center has 40,000 sq m of retail space, with the majority occupied by dining, retail and education businesses.

According to Lu, SML Center's deputy general manager, SML Center would be adding another 190,000 sq m of retail space to the complex in the coming three years to include more cultural and entertainment facilities.

Lu explained that the company decided to launch the shopping center because of the growing number of residents in the Jiading district where the mall is situated.

According to a recent report from the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences, the population in areas beyond the city's outer ring road increased by 5.3 percent from a year ago. The Jiading area is presently home to more than 3 million people and it is expected to expand to 5 million in the future, added Lu.

"People are moving further and further from the city center. As such, community shopping malls are being built to tap into people's needs for shopping, dining, education, entertainment and leisure activities during the weekend," said Chen.

wang_ying@chinadaily.com.cn