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Largest mall in the world is a Chinese ghost town
Watch the full episode. See more POV.
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
Reader Comments (Page 3 of 10)
Andi Mar 6th 2011 6:29AM
Sounds like that's what they were trying to do. Didn't work here and it won't work there. Can't even fathom what kind of crack they were on when they decided to waste all of the money for this...not to mention farming fields. No highway or airport? Sounds like the Bridge to Nowhere.
ron Mar 6th 2011 12:56AM
dident they hear that the time for malls was over by the late 80s?i know the enviroment there is totally poluted,but hiding in the great indoors is not the answer.
kksabourin Mar 6th 2011 1:24AM
This has to be the worst video I've ever seen. No sense of pacing. So boring.
thatzalargemall Mar 6th 2011 1:26AM
i
want to fly all the way to china catch a cab to that mall then buy a pack of gum catch a cab back to air port then fly home .
iorderfromtogomenu Mar 6th 2011 1:30AM
purina cat chow a meow meow meow
Bronzemarigolds Mar 6th 2011 1:36AM
With all of that empty space and cramped living conditions, I am surprised that they don't turn some of that empty space into apartments. Imagine the revenue created if they did that. People would buy everything from the mall if they lived in the mall. With all of the extravagance of the place, I am sure people would love to live there. They could also do a hotel and conference area. A theater would also add class and culture. They could build their own little community.
sunny Mar 6th 2011 6:46AM
My very first thought exactly.
Bri Mar 6th 2011 11:42AM
That's actually a great idea and one we, (The United States) should be taking a look at for our own Dead Mall space. Some of these dead malls could be turned in to Seniors housing, (much needed) complete with Theaters, Gyms, Hair salons, Grocers, small shops, etc. It would be highly secure and would also be enviornmentally/climate controlled. I wish there were city planners, architects, etc. who would seriously consider this idea. Even the asphalt could be dug up and gardens built in the surrounding area's where residents would enjoy growing their own flowers, veggies, etc. Or just for a leisurely stroll with their family and friends. It would solve quite a few issues. If only....
Dan Mar 6th 2011 5:04AM
It may be time to film Blues Brothers II.
dvdfrnzwbr Mar 6th 2011 1:50AM
What good is a Mall when workers in China only make enough money to eat.
rainbowcat Mar 6th 2011 2:10AM
Please check spelling before submitting comments. What kind of English is it? It is nothing but slang
rainbowcat Mar 6th 2011 2:22AM
I agree with Bronzemarigolds's idea. This mega mall should turn to apartments or hotels and rent to those people who can afford to live there. Instead of makes it to look like a ghost town and waste investors money. It is kind of silly for the Chinese people to keep up with the Jones to open the biggest mall in the world.
Raymond Mar 6th 2011 2:28AM
There's always a point of "Overbuilding" any Industry! China is beginning to learn that Harsh Fact! You can Build, Build, Build, & Build! However, there's always a point of Overbuilding! That was the "Harsh Reality" in California Home Building! I've seen Videos on YouTube that Real Estate Developers in California had One of Two Choices: Either Pay Property Taxes on the New Homes that they couldn't sell or Tear the Houses Down! The Real Estate Developers in California chosed the lesser of Two Evils! They Teared The Houses Down! If the Commercial Real Estate Market in China goes Down Hill; Hold On To Your Trousers In The World Economy!
ead17 Mar 6th 2011 2:33AM
Please don't blame Americans for this. Malls are fundamentally obscene, but they can have pleasant side effects. Like the young man said, it's a great place to bring a date; especially if you live at home and you need some place deserted to hang out; all sorts of shenanigans could be gotten up to, no wonder that young couple look so happy. What fun. We used to ditch school and head to the Del Amo mall, and kids probably do the same thing today, although they demolished a huge corridor of that thing, and re-built it as an outdoor mall, and a theater complex. I miss that old theater. So go ahead Chinese people, dry hump your date at the deserted mall, but please don't blame me for this insanity, I'd have rather they built something that interested people, like a giant eco-complex, with solar farms and green corridors, where the people could learn about renewable energy, and pick their own fresh vegetables to have them cooked up in solar food stalls, and things related to Chinese culture, and like that. Not too late, you can fix it. The world has become so useless today, Cairo should be renamed Las Vegas by the Nile.
Raymond Mar 6th 2011 2:39AM
Watching the Video & seeing the South China Mall reminds me of both Versions of "Dawn of The Dead" (Except NO Zombies!)! It saddens me that all that Labor went into something that could've been Great, however I'm realistic that either it will be Closed Down and/or Torn Down!
caprilaska Mar 6th 2011 3:02AM
and American People are working for China Communist Dictators and their malls! now......American Government should be procecuted for destroying America and American Way of life.......bunch of self serivig liars thieves and chuligans - they collecting our hard ear dollar call taxes and throw them around the world and mostly to china.....China looks good on the picture ! in fact is dirty !
Wake up America - time to elect normal people to our government ! not the Acorn element - chuligans - mental retards, brainless freeloaders.......
like hillary clinton and the idiot obama and the idiot holder and the rest of the disqusting human beings
don Mar 6th 2011 3:12AM
TRUE american's need to stop buying anything made from outside the north america. we will kill ourself by not making 1 item here in the states. i personally try very hard to only buy usa products. just the other day i returned a pipe cutting tool that was sold from Matco tool truck. after i took a closer look at the package, and found made in china. i really wanted this tool. I will put the $65.00 towards a U.S.A. made tool! no more tool buying with the word china on it! i walked into the matco tool truck, thought i might find something i wanted. everything i picked up was made in china. BUY U.S.A. AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE!!! HELP OUR COUNTRY SURVIVE!!! F**K O** CHINA! Don the i'd rather buy old usa made products then new china shit products.
debora Mar 6th 2011 3:23AM
well here is an idea, why not mae apts out of the mall at least you will have a grocerie stroe movie plenty of things to do and money coming in would be better than none at all . and for the first year give rent half off i bet it will fill up . and they can have stores right their .perfect.
JohnR Mar 6th 2011 3:35AM
How was this financed? What was the source of the money for this project?
Raymond Mar 6th 2011 4:50AM
The Mall was originally financed with Private Money! Then, after very few Tenants moved in; the Original Investors left & the Chinese Government now runs the Mall!