The mall is adorned with plants characteristic of a subtropical monsoon climate.
Within 30 days of its opening, the newly established Bantian Vanke Mall has welcomed over 2.6 million visitors, consistently topping the list of Shenzhen's hottest shopping malls and thereby emerging as a new popular destination in Shenzhen.
In the in-depth exploration of ecological planning and creation for commercial settings, the project team of Bantian Vanke Mall has collaborated with the internationally renowned design firm CRTKL (affiliated with the Rcadis Group) to meticulously forge an unprecedented urban oasis. Leveraging its exceptional design philosophy and professional capabilities, CRTKL ingeniously incorporates the unique ecological elements of Shenzhen into the design, aiming to blur the boundaries between the "hustle and bustle of the city" and the "poetic distance," thereby bringing urban dwellers a life experience that returns to nature.
The mall features animal sculptures throughout.
To better showcase the local ecological charm of Shenzhen, Vanke has collaborated with native Shenzhen natural and historical researcher Nan Zhaoxu, who documents the local ecology, to integrate vibrant natural elements of the city into the design of the commercial space, creating a unique nature exploration park. This park spans 27,000 square meters. Inspired by native species, it has forged a lively vertical ecosystem that forms a vital component of the mall's seven-story, 150,000-square-meter commercial space.
Through its meticulously designed three core spaces—Discovery Forest, Migration Playground, and Symbiotic Realm—and five unique themed zones—Carefree Canyon, Leisure Campground, Nature Park, Vitality Oasis, and Lively Rooftop—Bantian Vanke Mall offers the public a range of eco-exploration experiences closely connected to everyday life. These spaces provide a serene and harmonious touch of nature amidst the hustle and bustle of urban living.
Animal sculptures with Shenzhen-specific characteristics have captured widespread attention.
To further integrate nature with commerce, Bantian Vanke Plaza fosters a dual cultural atmosphere of "public art + scientific education." Featuring Shenzhen's top ten iconic animals as central elements, the plaza uses diverse creative mediums such as large-scale outdoor sculptures, interactive media installations, light and holographic displays, and AR digital artworks to narrate stories of Shenzhen's ecological migration, biodiversity, and coexistence.
Notably, in collaboration with Florentijn Hofman, the Dutch artist behind the famous "Rubber Duck," the plaza has unveiled a 10-meter-tall sculpture of PiPi, a Shenzhen-native black-faced spoonbill. This striking installation has quickly become a signature landmark and a popular spot for visitors.
The mall resembles a vast botanical garden.
From cascading waterfalls to lush botanical forests, from giant animal sculptures to interactive media installations, visiting this mall feels like taking a stroll through nature, reminiscent of Singapore's Changi Airport. It's no surprise that netizens have hailed it as "Shenzhen's Little Changi" and "the most Singapore-like mall," capturing widespread attention for its unique blend of nature and innovation.
From neighborhood blocks to upscale malls and urban micro-vacation spots, Longgang District is witnessing a surge in high-quality and diverse consumption venues. Data shows that from 2020 to 2022, the district added nearly 900,000 square meters of commercial space, with 14 new malls, including Longgang Wanda Plaza and Dream Center, leading all districts in the number of new openings. This year, the debut of business hubs like Universiade World and Bantian Vanke Plaza has further revitalized the local economy with fresh consumer energy.
Reporter| Zhang Siyu, Liu Yueya
Editor| Wei Shen, James, Shen He
Photo| Bantian Vanke Mall
