Shenzhen will establish five world-class commercial districts over the next 10 years, according to a 2025-2035 plan released by the city’s commerce bureau. The plan seeks to transform Shenzhen into an international commercial hub distinguished by its remarkable commercial innovation, competitiveness, and influence.

The plan entails the creation of five world-class commercial districts, six national-level ones, 42 regional-level ones, and an extensive network of community-level convenience outlets, thereby catering to the consumer demands of diverse groups.

The Shenzhen Bay MixC shopping mall in Nanshan District. Photos by Lin Jianping

The world-class commercial districts will be established in the Futian CBD, Luohu District’s core business area, the Houhai-Shenzhen Bay area in Nanshan District, the Airport-Shenzhen World Exhibition and Convention Center area, and the Qianhai-Bao’an CBD area.

Each will feature over 1 million square meters of commercial space. These areas will be designed to attract top-tier domestic and international brands and integrate with the city’s iconic urban landscape.

The MixC World shopping mall in Nanshan.

The six national-level commercial hubs will consist of the Shatoujiao area in Yantian District, the Shenzhen Universiade Sports Center area in Longgang District, the core area of Longhua District, the Chegongmiao-Xiasha area in Futian District, the Xili Railway Station area in Nanshan District, and the Longqi Bay area in Dapeng New Area.

Each will include an area of between 500,000 and 1 million square meters and primarily target consumers from the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and other parts of the country.

Regional-level commercial districts will cover between 100,000 and 500,000 square meters each. The community-level convenience outlets will focus on meeting the basic daily needs of residents within a 15-minute walking radius.

The city has designated 42 regional-level commercial districts, including the Bagualing area in Futian, the Dachong and the OCT areas in Nanshan, the Shiyan area in Bao'an, the Henggang area in Longgang, the Minzhi area in Longhua, the Pingshanwei area in Pingshan, the Guangming central area in Guangming, and the Kuichong area in Dapeng.

By 2035, the city aims to achieve 2.5 trillion yuan (US$344 billion) in total retail sales of consumer goods, as per the plan.

Meanwhile, the city aims to develop a range of diverse, distinctive commercial clusters that focus on technology, fashion, cultural creation, tourism, and transportation.