SM Prime opens fifth mall in the ‘Chicago of China’

MANILA, Philippines - SM Prime Holdings Inc., the country’s largest mall developer and operator, recently opened SM City Chongqing in Southwest China. It is the country’s fifth shopping mall in China after SM City Xiamen, SM City Jinjiang, SM City Chengdu, and SM City Suzhou.

Known as the “Chicago of the East,” Chongqing is one of the four municipalities directly under the Central Government of China after Beijing, Shanghai, Tianjin and Guangzhou. 

An economic center upstream of the Yangtze River, Chongqing’s 3,000 years of history highlight the broad and deep Bashu culture, where the root of prosperity is rooted.

Today, Chongqing has several economic and technological zones and is a major railway hub. The city also boasts cultural heritage and natural attractions, and is the starting point of the Yangtze River Cruise, which explores the impressive scenery of China’s Three Gorges.

The 149,080-square-meter, six-level mall is located in Chongqing’s rapidly developing Yubei district. With its strategic location and transport accessibility, the mall will serve a population of approximately 30 million residents in the city of Chongqing.

SM City Chongqing’s exterior design features “fish scale” panels accented by lighting a “fish scale” overlaps. Slanted glass panels define entrances at the lobby. The beige tones create a warm, cordial and clean feeling. Huge skylights provide natural lighting, making the mall environmental friendly.

Navigating around the mall is easy as the planning of retail shops focuses on the circulation flow. The goods can be seen through either sides of the mall lobby to enhance one’s shopping experience.

With 85 percent of the mall awarded to various tenants, SM City Chongqing offers a mix of local and international stores with Vanguard Supermarket, SM Department Store, and Wanda Cinema as its anchor tenants.  Junior anchors include Vera Moda, Ongly, Jack & Jones, Watsons, Starbucks and Kidswant.

SM City Chongqing is the sixth SM mall to be opened by SM Prime this year after SM City Olongapo in Zambales. SM City Consolacion in Cebu, SM San Fernando in Pampanga, SM City General Santos in Cotobato, and SM Lanang Premier in Davao.

SM Prime now has a total of 51 malls in the Philippines and in China with a combined GFA of 6.3 million square meters.