Chinese School - Just park and shop

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BIZCHINA / Biz Life

Just park and shop

By Du Xiaoli (chinadaily.com.cn)
Updated: 2007-07-20 17:51

A consumer surnamed Lu is satisfied with facilities and services of Xidan
shopping malls in downtown Beijing. But he also said: "I hesitate to go
shopping there due to parking problems and traffic congestion."

Many downtown shopping malls in Beijing such as Xidan and Wangfujing have
parking problems that deter customers. Parking problems in the Xidan
commercial area could hinder its development, said experts.

Sixteen large shopping malls in Beijing including Beijing Modern Plaza,
Henderson Center, and New World will reconstruct parking guide systems in
the coming three to four months, said Lu Yan, director of the Beijing
Municipal Bureau of Commerce.

Convenient parking has become a factor in competition, and is an
indivisible part of shopping mall operation because more people are
driving cars to go shopping, said experts. Desire for convenience,
comfort, and consumer-oriented services encourage the shopping malls to
build orderly, harmonious environments.

Currently many shopping malls are not able to build new parking lots, so
the existing parking lots must be used efficiently, requiring the
shopping malls to reconstruct parking guide systems, experts suggested.

There are two kinds of parking lots in shopping malls in Beijing-on the
ground and underground. The parking lots on the ground are convenient for
consumers while many underground ones have no clear guiding system, which
is inconvenient for shoppers.

"Guide systems should be highlighted in reconstruction of parking system
in large shopping malls in Beijing," said Lu Hao, vice-mayor of Beijing.
It is impossible to solve the shortage of parking space quickly.
Therefore the parking guide systems should have clear signs indicating
the number of available parking spaces, parking access directions and the
way toward shopping malls.

Many shopping malls have enhanced the utilization of their parking lots
after reconstruction. Successful reconstruction encourages others to do
the same.

Besides large shopping malls, all commercial streets in Beijing will
gradually reconstruct parking guide facilities, said Lu Yan, adding that
the commerce bureau will issue advice on standardization of
reconstructions.

(For more biz stories, please visit Industry Updates)

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