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Largest mall in the world is a Chinese ghost town

by Justin Delaney (RSS feed) on Mar 2nd 2011 at 11:00AM

While China recently announced 45 new airports due to booming travel growth, several of their development projects have been enormous duds. The New South China Mall is twice the size of Minnesota's Mall of America, but hovers at around a 1% occupancy. The rows of empty shops are piped with serene elevator music, and guards police the empty halls with echoing footsteps.

Announced in 2005, the mall is located in Dongguan in the Guangdong province of southern China. The location is between Guangzhou and Shenzen in an area that may one day be considered the world's largest mega city, estimated to have a population near 50 million. Today, the mall has yet to live up to any distinction associated with mega cities, and is a sobering example of what happens when idea implementation precedes growth. Separated into seven districts modeled after international cities, the mall boasts an Arc de Triomphe, Venice canals, and even a mini Egypt. Of the 2,350 leasable store spaces, around 50 are actually in use. Check out this award-winning video directed by Sam Green and Carrie Lozano for PBS that showcases this bizarre mall.

Filed under: Business, Asia, China, Theme Parks

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Reader Comments (Page 10 of 10)

owlafaye Mar 8th 2011 12:19AM

Bill seems to make the most sense folks. The level of education for this group is appallingly low. Why would Bill encourage your horrors?

great scott Mar 8th 2011 12:19AM

Ok I will do something that mr.bill the grammer cop can't do.
Shut and end this, it's boring.
Don't get your knickers in a twist.
And TRY to get laid you are too uptight.
Don't forget to quote me again on my bad grammer..
So long WEENIE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

b.t.w. I'm still laughing at you. LOL u.y. d.d.

AmericanDude Mar 8th 2011 12:04PM

Sounds like my local mall. Empty stores, and a Chik-Fil-Et...

Attila Mar 9th 2011 8:06AM

Wow...too many thoughts flow out of this one. Only the PLA could get away with building a Mall the size of Milwaukee in a country of essentially poverty stricken peasants numbering close to two billion in a land mass fractionally larger than the U.S. I remember when the Mall of America went up. I wonder when we get to meet the new Chinese Sarah Palin and Glenn Beck?

Peter Mar 11th 2011 12:54PM

Actually the Mall of America was not the largest Canada has the largest in Edmonton.

FActCheck May 14th 2011 6:40PM

No kidding. People are so ignorant about Canada.

Jay Mar 13th 2011 4:27PM

Well Andi,

I heard the video and you obviously didn't read what I said. Many of retail businesses in remote areas can thrive, the gov't just has to invest in the infrastructure to make them accessible. I did state the gov't would have to get involved Andi and incentivize/foster travel to that site. Most amusement parks in the US, are in fairly remote areas. Yet, they're crowded all summer. I travel to the designer shopping outlet in Reading, PA often, which is not around much. I also travel to Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun casinos occasionally. All of these huge entertainment or shopping developments are flush with business, but the infrastructure and travel resources had to be put in place. There wasn't any at first, especially with the Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun casinos. Know you have highway, gas stations and major bus companies and bus tours coming to their doors daily. The Chinese developers mad the mistake of not doing that simultaneously with gov't, but it can be done. They truly believed in the "If We Built It, They Shall Come" mantra. Andi, you clearly have a 9-5 mentality. People who can't express their ideas without vulgarity and can't innovate themselves out of problems, will be left behind. That's why China is on the upswing and we as a country are on the downswing. They're looking for solutions and we looking for people to blame (there are many I'll admit) and scapegoats. Donald Trump made a similar error with the Taj Mahal casino decades ago. It was all the way at the end of the strip, away from the other casinos (except the Claridge). He thought he'd make it so grand, people would travel to the end of the strip just to experience it, but most tourist and amateur gamblers want variety. They don't wanna be stuck in the same place, Vegas is the same way. Problem many people get to Atlantic City by tour buses and they aren't gonna walk a mile plus to his casino, especially the senior crowd. So, he's limited to the people staying at the hotel or people who are driving. Bad business move, by a great businessman. He was able to turn it around somewhat and I think these guys can do the same. It will take time, patience, investment and supporting infrastructure projects.

Jay Mar 13th 2011 4:46PM

Well Andi,

I heard the video and you obviously didn't read what I said. Many of retail businesses in remote areas can thrive, the gov't just has to invest in the infrastructure to make them accessible. I did state the gov't would have to get involved Andi and incentivize/foster travel to that site. Most amusement parks in the US, are in fairly remote areas. Yet, they're crowded all summer. I travel to the designer shopping outlet in Reading, PA often, which is not around much. I also travel to Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun casinos occasionally. All of these huge entertainment or shopping developments are flush with business, but the infrastructure and travel resources had to be put in place. There wasn't any at first, especially with the Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun casinos. Now you have highway, gas stations and major bus companies and bus tours coming to their doors daily. The Chinese developers made the mistake of not doing that simultaneously with gov't, but it can be done. They truly believed in the "If We Built It, They Shall Come" mantra. Andi, you clearly have a 9-5 mentality. People who can't express their ideas without vulgarity (butt-fk'd) and can't innovate themselves out of problems, will be left behind. That's why China is on the upswing and we as a country are on the downswing unfortunately. Look at out political landscape and no wonder why anything can get done. It's all about demonization and character assassination versus the greater good. They're looking for solutions and we looking for people to blame (there are many I'll admit) and scapegoats. Donald Trump made a similar error with the Taj Mahal casino decades ago. It was all the way at the end of the strip, away from the other casinos (except the Claridge). He thought he'd make it so grand, people would travel to the end of the strip just to experience it, but most tourist and amateur gamblers want variety. They don't wanna be stuck in the same place, Vegas is the same way. Problem many people get to Atlantic City by tour buses and they aren't gonna walk a mile plus to his casino, especially the senior crowd. So, he's limited to the people staying at the hotel or people who are driving. Bad business move, by a great businessman. He was able to turn it around somewhat and I think these guys can do the same. It will take time, patience, investment and supporting infrastructure projects.