Liu Minxia

    mllmx@msn.com

    FOLLOWING an eight-month trial operation, the curtain on Shenzhen’s largest commercial complex was raised Saturday when the 300,000-square-meter Haiya Mega Mall formally opened its doors.

    The mall postponed its opening date several times last year.

    Located in Bao’an District and adjacent to the red-hot Qianhai area, the shopping complex was completed early last year by Haiya Group, at a cost of 3.6 billion yuan (US$585 million). The mall initially was slated to open in April 2012, but the date was pushed to September and then to December last year. The trial operation began in January.

    Some of the shops on the mall’s first floor remained vacant Saturday. The majority of the occupied space — primarily used for supermarkets, a theater and restaurants — is run by Haiya Group.

    “The increasing number of shopping centers in the city makes it hard for some to find their positions by bringing proper brands,” said Hua Tao, head of Shenzhen Retail Business Association.

    Haiya Mega Mall reportedly sought luxury brands like Gucci and LV, but failed in their efforts as many big names slowed their expansion pace amid the economic slowdown.

    Six more large-scale shopping malls — including CoCoCity, Vanke Square, IA Mall and Happy Mall — are expected to open in Shenzhen later this year, with most located in either Bao’an or Longgang district.

    The Haiya mall is not the only shopping center to postpone its opening date due to an oversupply of shopping venues in the city. IA Mall and Happy Mall had planned to open at the end of this month, but both said they’ll postpone. IA Mall said it’s not ready yet for opening, while Happy Mall said it will start trial operation.

    Haiya Mega Mall has 198,000 square meters of retail space, twice the amount of KK Mall in Luohu District. It features a Haiya Theater, an 8,000-square-meter banquet hall that can house 150 tables, a five-star IMAX cinema and an ice rink on which curling can be played.