Gubei plans to open city's top pedestrian street in May

By Tom Qian  |   2008-11-12  |     ONLINE EDITION

A FRENCH-STYLE pedestrian street will open in Shanghai's Changning District in May.

Officials hope the 670-meter long stretch in Huangjinchengdao in the Gubei area becomes the top pedestrian street in the city, Oriental Morning Post reported today.

Meanwhile, the district will also become home to the China headquarters of the luxury retailer LVMH Group. Construction of the LVMH building at the intersection of Zhunyi Rd. and Xianxia Rd. will be completed in 2011, said the report. The group plans to showcase more than 40 of its luxury brands including Louis Vuitton, Tag Heuer and Dior.

More than 10 business projects would add 1 million square meters of new commercial space in the district, the report said, citing the Changning District Economy Commission yesterday.

After completion, total business space in the district will exceed 2 million square meters, mainly in five business areas: Hongqiao, Zhongshan Park, Caojiadu, Linkong and around subway stations. Among them the commercial space in Zhongshan Park area will expand from 351,000 square meters to 430,000 square meters.

Retailers such as Marks & Spenser expressed interest in opening retail outlets in the district, according to the report.