Zhongguancun International Shopping Mall, another landmark project in China's "Silicon Valley", broke ground here Friday.

Covering an area of 50 hectares, the shopping mall aims to be first-class in its architectural style, management, services and equipment of supporting facilities.

Situated in the Zhongguancun Science and Technology Park, the shopping center will pattern its design and operation after counterparts in foreign countries.

Included in the mall will be department stores, franchise stores, supermarkets, science and technology exhibition halls, movie theaters, restaurants, recreation parks, bookstores and Internet cafes, said Dong Jiasheng, who is head of the construction project.

Located in Haidian District in western Beijing, Zhongguancun is home to 8,224 high-tech enterprises, returning a profit of 8.77 billion yuan (about US$ 1.1 billion) last year.

It has become the hub of China's computer and information industry.

( Xinhua News Agency December 29, 2001)