Chinese Tutor - Consuming passion

CITYLIFE / Shopping






Consuming passion

By Beijing Weekend (Beijing Weekend)
Updated: 2007-07-16 11:09


Beijing's new fame as a shopper's paradise just stepped up a notch, with
numerous malls sprouting across the city, and yet more to come in the
run-up to the Games.

The capital's retail sector is entering a new stage of development, with
the number of malls to reach its peak by 2008, said Dennis Luk, director
of the retail department under Beijing Colliers International.

It's good news for the city's stylish lads and lasses, with several new
centers opened just in time to stock summer's hot new looks. Here's a
rundown on some of the unique characteristics being seen as the retail
big guns fight for your Mao.

SOHO Shangdu

This new complex is heaven for young girls in search of the latest
fashions. Located in the northwest corner of Chaoyang District, SOHO gets
an avant-garde facade, combining irregular and upside-down triangles
designed by acclaimed Australian Federation Square architect, Peter
Davidson. It boasts an astounding scale of one 5-storey, 37,000 square
meter vertical shopping street, one 8-storey business building and one
24-storey office tower.

The biggest feature here is the variety of small shops, covering
everything from jewelry and delicate handicrafts, to beauty salons and
chic clothes imported from Japan and South Korea. Though most are not
famous brands, all goods look quite trendy with comparatively low prices,
aiming at the fashionable young under 30 years old.

There are more than 400 small shops and boutiques in the building, though
at time of press just one-third of these were open for trading at the
brand-new center. To celebrate the opening, shops have slashed prices by
half.

Of those stores up and running, there are quite a few specializing in
artworks that are worth visiting. As-wishes on the third floor features
pottery in natural rough and simple styles. To keep the natural touch of
the products, the pottery is fired by wood instead of gas or coal.

On the second floor there are two shops focusing on handmade accessories
and artworks ?Tiantangyan features Nepalese and Tibetan jewelry,
cushions, delicate handmade clothes and scarves with strong exotic
flavor, while Shicaotang provides handmade leather products, from ordered
shoes to toys.

The complex also houses two open-air atriums, ideal for holding fashion
shows and small concerts. Another highlight, the five sunken gardens,
turns the shopping trip into a light-hearted experience.

Food here is OK. You can taste snacks from all around China, such as the
authentic Yunnan Rice Vermicelli and Shanxi Cut Noodle.

Location: 8 Dongdaqiao Lu, Chaoyang District

Wangjing Jiamao Shopping Center

This mall is more like an entertainment center, boasting a gym and beauty
clubs, various restaurants, and small indoor amusement parks for
children. Most brands there aim at middle and high-end customers, for
instance, CK, Touch and Fox. The entire fourth floor provides complete
ranges of products for kids and pregnant mothers, which has proved
popular with families.

Food is given a big presence here, with more than 50 restaurants
featuring different tastes. As Wangjing attracts many of Beijing's
Koreans, there is a special Korean cuisine zone on the second floor.

Concern for the shopper touches every corner of the mall. There is a tea
room on each floor providing free drinks for customers; in most toilets
there are special places for mothers to change baby's diaper.

One disadvantage is that the mall only has parking for 500 cars, creating
headaches on weekends.

Location: Guangshun Beidajie, Wangjing, Chaoyang District.

Landao Jinuu Department Store

It is the only large-scale shopping center on the North 5th Ring Road in
Beijing. Focusing on high-end clothes, the 15,000-square-meter mall
gathers more than 300 brands, such as Adidas, Nike and L'oreal.

Location: 1 Anningzhuang Donglu, Xisanqi, Haidian District






















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Beijing Guide




Eating out: A little sum-thing tasty
Bars&Cafes: The communal punchbowl
Weekend&Holiday: To the moon and back
Shopping: Consuming passion
What's on: Gone batty







Shanghai Guide


Eating out: Time for the lanes
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