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Zhu Wenqian

Property developers are focusing on building shopping centres featuring lush greenery, gardens and water features in mainland China, as such spaces have become more attractive to shoppers and retailers than conventional high-density malls.
“Consumers increasingly view retail destinations as places to spend time rather than simply places to buy products. This reflects the continued growth of online retail as well as changing lifestyle preferences,” said James Macdonald, head of research for China at Savills.
“They are spending more time on dining, leisure, wellness and social activities, which naturally benefit from more open and human-scale environments. Open-air formats can also support a wider range of events and activities, helping projects remain active beyond traditional shopping hours and contributing to nighttime consumption.”
Hong Kong developer Swire Properties is investing 23 billion yuan (US$3.4 billion yuan) to build a Taikoo Place in Beijing – the first Taikoo Place on the mainland – in what will be the company’s single largest investment.
Located alongside a river in northeastern Beijing, the complex will integrate eight connected office buildings, an expanded retail component linked to the existing Indigo mall, a new hotel, outdoor retail space, a riverside leisure offering and expansive green space – a combination the company said was not currently available in the capital.
The mixed-use complex is expected to begin opening in phases by the end of the year, with the office towers to be handed over first for fit-out, followed by the gradual roll-out of retail offerings.
“We developed the project around a park-centric concept, and it functions as an urban oasis. Such open public spaces are scarce in major cities, and I think the Beijing site is well-positioned for such a development,” said Han Zhi, director of retail at Swire Properties.
“Taikoo Place Beijing represents Swire Properties’ confidence in the long-term development of the Beijing and Chinese mainland markets.”

Han added that Swire’s Taikoo Li Julong Wan commercial complex in Guangzhou, located on the Pearl River waterfront, had seen promising retail sales and footfall since the first phase of the development opened in late December.
“Chinese consumers are increasingly sophisticated and expect constant novelty. They are spoiled with unique experiences and continuously look for the next wow effect, which accelerates the obsolescence cycle of retail concepts,” said Zino Helmlinger, head of retail leasing at CBRE China.
“The China retail landscape has become significantly less transactional and far more experience-driven. For brands, the goal is not just to sell but to build loyalty through customised and memorable experiences.”
The Chinese government rolled out a special action plan to boost consumption last March, which said authorities would actively support the development of smart business districts and immersive experience spaces, as well as the transformation of traditional bricks-and-mortar retail outlets into innovative commercial venues.
Last year, the number of park-style commercial complexes in China’s largest cities reached 150. In the nation’s top 30 cities, the share of commercial spaces occupied by park-style developments climbed from 3.7 per cent in 2020 to 17.6 per cent in 2025, according to iiMedia Research Group.
Cities including Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chongqing and Chengdu in southwestern Sichuan province have developed different park-style malls in both open-air and indoor formats. For instance, an indoor mall in Chongqing features a tropical forest, waterfall and sky walkway.
“Park-style retail reflects a wider shift in urban design thinking. In leading cities such as Shanghai, developers are increasingly prioritising walkability, sustainability and higher-quality public spaces, not only in retail projects, but across mixed-use developments more generally,” Macdonald said.
“One lesson from overseas markets is that successful projects tend to focus on place-making rather than retail alone. The strongest examples create destinations that people want to visit even if they have no intention of shopping,” he added.


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Developers are getting creative as they try to entice China’s shoppers, who increasingly demand novelty and lush green space


Developers are getting creative as they try to entice China’s shoppers, who increasingly demand novelty and lush green space.


Park life: why China’s malls are building forests, waterfalls and sky walkways

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Developers are getting creative as they try to entice China’s shoppers, who increasingly demand novelty and lush green space

Developers are getting creative as they try to entice China’s shoppers, who increasingly demand novelty and lush green space