SM Prime opens biggest mall yet—in China

Southeast Asian property giant SM Prime Holdings has opened a massive new shopping mall in Tianjin, China—its seventh and biggest retail hub in this market and the biggest so far in its entire chain of malls.

With a gross floor area (GFA) of 565,000 square meters or just about as large as three football fields, SM City Tianjin is the newest landmark at the Tianjin Airport Economic Area within the emerging Binhai New Area, the largest free trade zone in Northern China and a thriving central business district considered home to over 2,000 enterprises from 130 countries. Tianjin is situated two hours from the capital city of Beijing.

The Tianjin mall is bigger so far than the group’s largest hubs in the Philippines: SM North Edsa, SM Megamall and Mall of Asia. With the forthcoming expansion of SM North Edsa and Mall of Asia, however, these two local malls will again become the largest in the group’s portfolio.

“The opening of SM City Tianjin reflects our strong confidence in China’s economy. This gives SM Prime a wider perspective on China’s shopping culture, allowing us to capture bigger opportunities as an international integrated property developer,” SM Prime president Jeffrey Lim said in a press statement yesterday.

The new mall had a soft opening last Saturday, Dec. 17. This newest architectural jewel is designed by ARQ, a world-renowned design agency. It has three structures positioned to look like a large blossoming flower from above, symbolizing growth and new opportunities, SM Prime said.

The mall is adjacent to the airport and is accessible through the cities of Beijing and Qinhuangdao via buses, expressways and high-speed railways.

SM City Tianjin offers diverse shopping, dining and leisure experience with more than 60 percent of space already leased out.  Doris Dumlao-Abadilla