"Xujiahui has developed into a busy shopping area during the past 10 years, we hope to further develop its function as a center for trade, business and a modern service industry in the coming five to 10 years," said Shen Jun, Xuhui District Director.

The new Xujiahui area will be expanded to 7 square kilometers from the current 4.5 square kilometers. Extending from the current Xujiahui Square, the new commercial area will stretch to Huaihai Road in the north, Yueyang and Fenglin Road in the east, Zhongshan Ring Road in the South and Kaixuan Road in the west.

Apart from the current shopping center, the revamped Xujiahui will include 1 million square meters of office space in the next three years to develop its function as a trade and business center.

New office buildings will include the New Shanghai International Shopping Center, the second phase of the Pacific Digital Plaza and the twin 54-story towers atop the Grand Gateway Plaza. Construction on the towers started this month.

The third phase of Xujiahui Park which covers 15,000 square meters will start construction soon, with the park eventually covering an area of 73,000 square meters.

As one of city's biggest shopping centers, Xujiahui shopping area came into being in 2000 with landmarks such as the Orient Department Store, the Pacific Department Store, Metro City and the Grand Gateway Plaza.

(eastday.com November 22, 2002)