Chinese Megamall 99% Empty

New South China Mall in Dongguan, China has been 99% vacant since it was built in 2005. Is Chinese development running amok? Sarah Goodyear looks at a recent documentary that explains why the mall was built.

1 minute read

March 31, 2011, 12:01 PM PDT

By Tim Halbur

Apparently the story, is this: "...a local businessman who had gotten fabulously rich in the new Chinese market economy wanted to make his mark in the world by building something fantastic. No matter that the site, which was farmland, had no good access - by road or rail or any other conveyance."

Goodyear uses the New South China Mall as an example of China's penchant towards "the construction of gigantic infrastructure projects with no regard for human needs."

FULL STORY: China’s ghost cities and the biggest property bubble of all time

Thursday, March 31, 2011 in Grist

Urban Development China Malls Dead Malls New South China Mall

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Learn More

Advertise with us

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.