Shopping malls - More than just places to buy stuff

If you ask me where to shop for the latest trendy items of the season, I can give you a list of shopping malls. And if you’re looking for more than just shopping… I’ll give you the same list. Why? Shopping malls in Shanghai are trying to attract more young customers by providing experiences in addition to shopping, in hopes that people will share these experiences with their friends. There are exhibitions, performances, and pop up stores in shopping malls all across the city... I spent the past week touring some business districts in town, and here’s my list of malls you might want to check out.
The curtain has risen on “Let’s Bond Well”, a two-month international art season at Taikoo Li Qiantan in Pudong and starting with the "Meta Eye Festival". Visitors will see classic photos by Marc Riboud (1923-2016), a French photographer who's known for his reportages in China. Dutch artist Marleen Sleeuwits is presenting her first outdoor landscape installation in China in the mall’s outdoor space. You will see kiosk-like installations put up by Chinese artist btr featuring photos and texts about Shanghai life.
520, short for May 20, means "I love you" in Chinese. As part of "I love you" day, the cast of one of the most popular love musicals "B for Busy," performed scenes from the play at Shanghai Grand Gateway 66. This was the first attempt at a musical performed in Shanghai dialect inside a shopping mall. Many different installations and booths reflecting the themes of the musical were on display, including the "Love Grocery Store" and a pop-up "B for Busy" store.
Yuyuan Garden has more than the Zig Zag Bridge for people to take selfies in Hanfu clothing. At the outdoor square of Huabao Mansion, a video game room, public phone booth in the small alley, as well as snacks and toys from 30 years ago were set up for people to travel back to the 80’s and 90’s.
And 800 meters across the street at the Bund Finance Center’s rooftop, people are taking pictures of a huge heart-shaped installation with the Lujiazui skyline as a backdrop. The popular Fengjing Road weekend market has also returned to the mall.
And office workers at Caohejing Development Zone, a place that has 4,000 high-tech companies, are trying to relive their pressure from work at CHJ Incity mall. With a theme of “Everyday Trivia Taking Place in the Workplace”, the exhibition allows people to use inflatable hammers to hit installations like "never work overtime," "pay rise" and other typical wishes.
Century Link mall in Pudong is working with Disney China to celebrate the 90th birthday of Donald Duck. From stylish new products and collections, to interactive installations, the exhibition features a 3-meter-tall giant Donald Duck with rows of palm trees, beach chairs and beach huts.
Now, the question isn’t whether this trend will continue, as it most certainly will. The real question is what will shopping malls think of next?