The World's Largest Mall

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed)
Feb 6th 2008 at 11:02AM

Now of course all seasoned shoppers know that it's not the size of the mall that counts, but the size of the sale and the quality of the selection -- but overseas shopping malls are bigger and badder than ever. The Chinese especially seem to love their enormous shopping centers, as China has by far the majority of the world's largest malls -- including the world's single biggest: the South China Mall. Located in Dongguan, China the South China Mall opened in 2005 and has a whopping 7.1 million square feet of leasable space. And although it might be considered the largest in the world, I'm not totally convinced. With wind mills and theme parks taking up some of that space isn't that cheating a little? I mean, how much square footage of actual shopping does it have?

Tags: China, mall, malls, shopping, world

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)

John P. Feb 6th 2008 11:54AM

They can have them. The Mall as a concept has been on the decline for quite awhile now here in the USA, in favor of town center type shopping complexes, and downtown revitalization projects. The old grey mare ain't what she used be kinda thing.

Linda Feb 6th 2008 7:13PM

LOL, John. You obviously don't live in New Jersey! It's Mall Hell.

Strong Feb 6th 2008 4:13PM

AH YES!! AS TO MALLS IN GENERAL, THEY REFLECT THE STUPIDITY OF MOST AMERICANS. TAKE THAT MALL IN MINNESOTA. "MALL OF THE AMERICAS. HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF AMERICANS ACTUALLY PLAN THEIR VACATION AROUND THAT MALL. HOW PATHETIC. TO VACATION AT A MALL. WELL, MOST AMERICANS HAVE LOW I.Qs--NOT GENETICALLY, BUT BECAUSE OF THE "FFEL GOOD" EDUCATION BEING DOLED OUT. EG: DID YOU KNOW THAT 87% OF ALL STUDENTS AT YALE AND HARVARD GET "As'' AS A GRADE. TALK ABOUT GRADE INFLATION. AND IT'S ALL BROUGHT ABOUT BY DADDAS AND MAMMAS WHO WANT TO SEE SOMETHING TANGIBLE FOR THE $50-60 THOUSAND ANNUAL TUITION. PROBLEM COMES WHEN YOU GO OUT IN THE WORLD AND TRY TO COMETE GLOBALY. NOT ALL THOSE JOBS WERE OUTSOURCED BECAUSE OF HIGH USA WAGES. MANY OF THEM WENT ABROAD BECAUSE AMERICANS COULDN'T (NOT WOULDN'T AS IN THE ILLEGAL REFRAIN) PERFORM THE NEEDED FUNCTIONS. NEXT VACATION FAD WILL BE TO DRIVE TO PHILADELPHIA, PUT OUT SOME LAWN CHAIRS IN FRONT OF A USED CAR DEALER AND WATCH THE CAR BUMPERS RUST. AT LEAST IT WILL ADD TO KNOWLEDGE RE OXIDATION.

David H. Feb 6th 2008 5:58PM

I couldn't agree w/ you more regarding a "mall" as a vacation destination. But the rest of your comments sound like a pathetic loser who couldn't get into a "Ivy League" school to have a chance at one of those $50-60k/yr. jobs and had to settle for a super-senior high school community college.

SHERRY Feb 6th 2008 7:34PM

WELL STRONG....F*** YOU.....EITHER GET THE HELL OUT OF THIS COUNTRY OR KEEP YOUR RIDICDULOUSLY STUPID COMMENTS ABOUT THE WAY WE LIVE HERE...TO YOURSELF. YOU OBVIOUSLY KNOW NOTHING OF AMERICAN EDUCATION......MUST NOT BE TOO BAD HERE OR ALL YOU DAMNED FOREIGNERS WOULD NOT BUST YOUR ASSES TO GET OVER HERE, EH?????

Bev Feb 7th 2008 7:49AM

lmao@

NEXT VACATION FAD WILL BE TO DRIVE TO PHILADELPHIA, PUT OUT SOME LAWN CHAIRS IN FRONT OF A USED CAR DEALER AND WATCH THE CAR BUMPERS RUST. AT LEAST IT WILL ADD TO KNOWLEDGE RE OXIDATION.

2 funny,thanks for the morning yuk....lol

Anne Feb 7th 2008 7:49AM

First, all caps are unnecessary. Second, the Mall of America here in frigid Minnesota is an excellent place. I personally do not spend much time there as the prices are horribly inflated, even by mall standards, but they have a number of things your average mall does not offer.

Take for instance, Lego Land. Excellent play place for small kids. Then there's the amusement park, excellent for all ages. The aquarium thing, good for school field trips to learn something about aquatic life. All sorts of good resturants to chill and enjoy a meal in. People watching! Personally, I like the people watching best. Good education, learn a great deal about the social habits of people from all walks of life.

Get a grip man, college means nothing anymore, clearly. We still have to do it though, since no one wants to hire anyone who doesn't have their paper. The maths they're teaching in high school these days are higher levels than your basic college maths. Sad.

Bob Wong Feb 6th 2008 4:43PM

I am glad to see the Chinese build huge shopping malls. Now, they can buy their own junk!

Virginia Feb 7th 2008 8:55AM

THEY DON'T BUY THERE JUNK THEY SELL IT TO THE US,.... THEY BUY THE USA PRODUCTS

Lara Feb 6th 2008 4:52PM

Strong, you are projecting. If you're feeling a bit moronic, don't try to pass it off as though *other* Americans are morons. If you think offshoring is taking place because Americans can't do the job, you are sadly mistaken. It's all a matter of wages. Cost is the bottom line in these matters. There are plenty of intelligent, well educated folks right here in the U.S. Perhaps you need to find a new crowd to hang with? :-)

Dennis Feb 6th 2008 5:04PM

The developer of Carousel Mall in Syracuse NY is adding on to make the largest mall in USA (maybe world?)

Dennis Feb 6th 2008 5:06PM

Developer of Carousel Mall in Syracuse NY is adding on to make biggest mall in USA (maybe world?)

Rissa Feb 6th 2008 7:43PM

Where is all this hate coming from? Instead of everyone calling each other morons and stuff, can't we share the good ideas that we have with each other?

I imagine they could be using all that space for farming and actually help to sustain our poorly dying world. All the forests and places of beauty and nature are sinking under this massive wave of capitalism.

Let's write letters. Let's tell them what we think.

Do the people that say things like
"Bob Wong said...
I am glad to see the Chinese build huge shopping malls. Now, they can buy their own junk!"
that, actually Know what goes on to these workers? They are underpaid and mistreated. They use international workforce in the same way they use prisoners in the us of a as a workforce...well, like slaves, basically. I am wondering if it's a coincidence that prison has the fastest growing population ever, and that politicians have been caught meandering crack into the us via tight acquaintences...

dsti625596 Feb 6th 2008 7:39PM

Strong, I have to agree with much of what you've said. I have three degrees including an advanced one from large research universities. Earning degrees there was anything but easy. Still, I knew someone who was admitted to Harvard Law and told me showing up earned one a 'B'. Still, I believe it was a joint Oxford - Cambridge study- 18 of the top 20 universities are in the USA. So why is American society so damn anti-intellectual? I mean, ' intelligent design'? Please. If Americans visited Europe their eyes would open. Life here is too often banal, tacky, and kitchy. It doesn't have to be.

Raena Feb 6th 2008 8:11PM

I personally hate malls...I live in a town where we don't
have a mall, we just have a small outdoor shopping center
with lots of small shops, of course, we have a Wal-Mart,
a K-Mart, and the Big Grocery Stores, but that is all we
need and want. If I do need anything, I usually just
order it off of the internet. There are way too many
malls being built in the same towns where so many
of the stores are having to close because they can't
bring in enough business now to pay the rent and
the employees. What a terrible waste of land...so
much of our land is being developed and it isn't necessary.
Our poor animals are being pushed out of their natural
environments and have no where now to go but into
the cities. One day our grandchildren and great
grandchildren won't even know what a bear or coyote
or some of these beautiful animals are, because they
will be extinct....no, I love my little town, and am so
glad I DO NOT HAVE A MALL! Thank you.

David Feb 6th 2008 10:14PM

To all the 'posters'....Please read your comments before you post.....Half of you can't even put a sentence together. The other half can't spell.....and your all talking about education...........please.

c. mcgarty Feb 7th 2008 6:57AM

it's "you're all talking about education....please"

harvey Feb 7th 2008 8:55AM

David, do you know the difference between YOUR and YOU'RE ?

JD Feb 7th 2008 9:52AM

Talk about the pot calling the kettle black. I am a really bad speller and even I know that in your sentence "The other half can't spell.....and your all talking about education...........please." It should have been "and you're (you are) talking about education"

Take your own advice.

Darling Feb 6th 2008 10:33PM

Planning a vacation around going to the mall? What a wonderful adventure! Ridiculous you say? No more than a vacation to see the Washington Monument (Duh)...or planning to see two panda bears sleep all day. I say keep the malls coming. The bigger, the better. Contrary to the belief of some (more than likely a homely little soul), the world revolves around sex & beauty. Almost anything, and everything is negoitable with those two qualities. Take up an entire state to build a new mall I say, and make 2/3's of the square footage... a variety of of salons featuring womens shoes, handbags, and of course...a Vickies warehouse on each wing. While you are at it...make it a 24 hr facility with swank hold over accomodations for kids/pets. Don't forget the indoor 18 hole turf valley... worthy of a PGA tournament. Why not through in a hospital and a fire station. Then, ask the individual who executes the completion of this fabulous project to run for president. The census sez there are 7 women to every 1 man....and a good percentage of those men are in the fashion & beauty industy. Hello!!!!
Hillary, Obama, and McCain....See Ya:). They'll be a new sheriff in town. If the USA "Rrrreally" wants to be the biggest, baddest, boys on the block???? Build the biggest, baddest Mall! CHINA? You're on the right track.

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