Can Oversized, Themed Malls Save China's Economy?

The world's largest malls are in a country that, four years ago, barely had a cosumer base.

1 minute read

May 27, 2005, 5:00 AM PDT

By Brenda Meyer

"Already, four shopping malls in China are larger than the Mall of America. Two, including the South China Mall, are bigger than the West Edmonton Mall in Alberta, which just surrendered its status as the world's largest to an enormous retail center in Beijing. And by 2010, China is expected to be home to at least 7 of the world's 10 largest malls.

Chinese are swarming into malls, which usually have many levels that rise up rather than out in the sprawling two-level style typical in much of the United States. Chinese consumers arrive by bus and train, and growing numbers are driving there. On busy days, one mall in the southern city of Guangzhou attracts about 600,000 shoppers."

Thanks to Brenda Meyer

Read the full story: China, New Land of Shoppers, Builds Malls on Gigantic Scale

Wednesday, October 26, 2005 in The New York Times

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