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Biggest mall and cultural center opens
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Shanghai’s biggest shopping and commercial complex, Global Harbor, covers 480,000 square meters and is the city’s first such complex to include major public art and cultural exhibits as well as tourism, entertainment and cultural heritage protection.
The opulent complex in Putuo District is topped by an enormous glass dome and features red and gold decor in neoclassical style, including Corinthian columns, statuary and 1,200 square meters of frescoes depicting classic Venetian scenes, modern vessels and Putuo’s modern cruise terminal along the Suzhou Creek. The garden courtyard blends Renaissance and Victorian styles.
The complex is shaped like a ship, symbolizing Shanghai’s and Putuo’s maritime industry, developing commercial port and cruise ship terminal.
It was designed by British firm Chapman Taylor. It contains an office building, hotel and apartments as well as retail and cultural space, entertainment, cafes and restaurants.
The six-level complex, two underground and four on the ground, with an open central court and rooftop garden opened on July 5. Five hundred brands have leased space.
Transport is convenient; the complex is connected to Metro lines 3, 4 and 13.
Unlike traditional malls, 20 percent of Global Harbor is designated for public cultural display and engagement. It is a pioneering project that combines a commercial and shopping complex with cultural projects.
A shopping festival, one highlight of this year’s Shanghai Tourism Festival, will be held at the complex from September 15.
“The establishment of public cultural space at the Global Harbor is a new area we are exploring in Shanghai and involves government, companies and cultural institutions,” said Yang Qinghong, director of the Shanghai Public Cultural Office.
The space includes entertainment space, art galleries, museums and exhibitions. They include the Chinese Comics Gallery, the Dunhuang National Musical Instruments Exhibition Center, Shanghai Qipao (qipao, a classic, form-fitting dress) Art Hall, Youhuangli Guqin Art Center (guqin is an ancient zither), and Global Harbor artwork auction.
Some projects involve intangible cultural heritage, such as guqin music, which are not commonly seen.
Musical performances of various kinds will be staged in the theater.
“The exhibitions, performances and lectures to be hosted at Global Harbor will be free and open to the public,” Yang added. “The Shanghai History Museum also wishes to have a better space for presentation, a chance to show the past and development of the city to more residents and tourists. The government has special funding for museum to operate exhibitions.”
Zhang Liming, an expert in intangible heritage research, said “with the Global Harbor as a platform, cultural projects will reach more people and gain more support and recognition.”
Calligrapher Shen Jie believes for artists, it’s a great opportunity to have works displayed somewhere in the downtown area. “The huge crowds going to malls everyday changes the situation of sometimes not having enough people visiting exhibitions after the grand opening. From the business perspective, having a group of artists and art lovers come and enjoy exhibitions will increase the consumption level.”
The Shanghai Qipao Art Hall and its haute couture retail space not only display luxury brand fashion and take custom orders, but also provide services for qipao fashion shows and annual shows of fashion collections. It includes four qipao companies in Shanghai, including Long Feng Qipao, a national intangible heritage project.
“Qipao companies now have a formal stage at Global Harbor, so more residents and customers will learn about China’s qipao culture, including history, design and tailoring. New customers will also be cultivated,” said Zhou Zhuguang of Hanyi Qipao.
The fourth floor above the ground contains a comic book gallery featuring Chinese comic books and illustrations, as well as two reading rooms. Regular exhibitions are planned.
“While online shopping poses a major challenge to traditional retail malls, what customers can experience at malls cannot be replaced and that’s what we’re striving to perfect,” said Ding Zuohong, CEO of Yuexing Group, the developer of Global Harbor.
The rooftop garden square will also be used as an interactive space, hosting fashion weeks, beer festivals, video game contests and other events. An ice rink will be opened.
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