Faces of a Culture – The Great Malls of China

Faces of a Culture – The Great Malls of China
Jun 30, 2012 By Trey Archer , eChinacities.com

One of the best ways to explore a culture is through its marketplaces. From the chic malls in Milan to the vegetable stands in La Paz, shopping centres (whatever form they come in) serve as national symbols that reflect on local citizens' lifestyles and daily habits. So what can we learn from Chinese malls? From the state-of-the-art to the antiquated and from the posh to the bargain-bin, by taking a look at some of China's most recognizable malls we quickly see just how miscellaneous this country really is.

1) The Big and the Desolate – New South China Mall (新华南MALL), Dongguan
The New South China Mall holds the heavy weight title of being the largest mall in the world, period. Opened in 2005, the complex is 890,000 square metres in total area and has space for 1,500 stores. It's also got everything from a roller coaster, go-kart track, massive restaurant square and seven zones modelled after famous international regions: Amsterdam, Paris, Rome, Egypt, Venice, the Caribbean and California all represented. With so much, it's ironic that the only thing this leviathan lacks is customers and stores. It's wedged between Shenzhen and Guangzhou, but too far away from either or to make it easily accessible by public transportation. With no customers businesses stayed clear, making the whole complex more than 99% vacant. The largely unoccupied, quiet, barren, dusty and dilapidated atmosphere has led people to start calling it "Ghost Mall"(东莞空城计), quite a demeaning term for a project that was suppose to eclipse all others as number one.

2) The Modern/High-Tech – Xidan Joy City (西单大悦), Beijing
With flashing neon lights, radiant colours and hypnotic music, the spaceship-like Xidan Joy City in Beijing is packed with enough futuristic gadgets to make even the most die-hard Star Trek fan blush. It also boasts some pretty over-the-top attractions. First of all, it stands at a goliath height of 13 stories. Second, there's a six-story single-system escalator – one of the largest in the world. Third, it has China's largest digital movie theatre with 13 screens in a 10,000 square metre arena. Fourth, it's home to Beijing's largest cosmetic market. Fifth, a 20,000 square metre food court satisfies the hungry with an impressive international selection. Sixth, there are regular music shows and other performances to energize dreary-eyed shoppers. Seventh, there's an upscale hotel and apartment complex right next to the action. And last but not least, apart from the cool gizmos and flamboyant displays, it's not a bad place to go shopping either. There's a plethora of department stores selling everything from household appliances, international designer tags and cutting edge electronics, including one of China's five (authentic) licensed Apple Stores.

3) The Classy – Three on The Bund (外滩三号), Shanghai
Three on the Bund is the most luxurious shopping centre in China and a landmark for the mega-rich residing in or visiting the "Paris of the Orient." The building itself is a classic Free Renaissance structure while the interior has been remodelled by the world famous architect Michael Graves. It's home to several award winning restaurants (Jean George's, Nougatine, Whampoa Club, New Heights), the HOW (House of Wine) wine tasting bar and Shanghai's most exclusive private dining venue, the Cupola. The Shanghai Gallery of Art and Evian's first established spa outside of France are added treats in this already opulent playground. With so many fine distractions, it's hard to remember that Three on the Bund is actually a mall. Don't forget about the various designer boutiques and Giorgio Armani's China flagship store Armani/Casa. For details concerning price, well, in a place like this, if you have to ask, you most certainly can't afford it!

4) The Copy-Cat – Luo Hu Commercial City (罗湖难业城), Shenzhen
It's no secret that China is the counterfeit capital of the world and perhaps no other mall best embodies that fact than the five-story Luo Hu Commercial City. Located between Hong Kong and downtown Shenzhen, this place has every knock-off imaginable: North Face jackets, Rolex watches, pirated DVDs, Apple iPhones/iPads, Gucci bags, Nike shoes, Panasonic TVs, Chanel cosmetics and any other look-a-like product that you can't afford at Three on the Bund. Here, you can even get a massage, your nails done and teeth cleaned for a discount price. Luo Hu has a seedy side, however. Prostitution and drug dealing are increasingly prevalent while begging, pick-pocketing and scams are also quite common, so keep an eye out when haggling down the price of your shiny new "SQNY" Playstation!

5) The Old and the Unique – The Middle and West Asia International Trade Market (喀什大把), Kashgar
The name says it all. This open-air, Silk Road bazaar in Xinjiang specializes in goods from Western and Central Asia rather than products from the Orient. Being the largest bazaar in northwest China and one of the country's oldest shopping centres at 2,000 years old, Pakistani crafts, Saudi dried fruits, Chinese silk, Turkish textiles and Middle Eastern spices are sold right beside Uyghur carpets, jewels, musical instruments, traditional clothing, pottery and water pipes. Apart from this long-established merchandise, one can also find an array of modern goods ranging from motorcycles to electronics. Just like any good mall, there's a sprawling food court, but you won't find any McDonald's or KFC here. Instead, suckling lamb kabobs, unleavened flat bread, zhua fan (a Uyghur rice dish), fresh fruits, ripe vegetables, fermented mare's milk and, the local favourite, stewed goat head, are just some of the delectable snacks waiting to be devoured. Make sure to go on Sunday when the livestock market is in full swing. It's an exceptional experience that rivals Tokyo's Tsukiji Fish Market with the auctioning of sheep and other animals from all corners of the Tarim Basin.
 

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Keywords: great malls in China biggest shopping centres shopping in China Xidan Beijing Three mall Bund Shanghai

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