Exploring Aegean Mall in Minhang, Shanghai
Shanghai may be known for its glitzy Pudong district or the elegance of the Bund, but look a tad further and there are many other neighborhoods you can explore in this fascinating city. Minhang, a residential district, is only a 20 to 30 minute taxi or a 40 minute metro ride away from the main tourist areas of the Bund or Pudong, but its location is perfect. Hotels are cheaper in this suburb compared to the main tourist spots and it’s also close to Hongqiao train station if you’re planning on going on day trips to other cities. Minhang is also home to massive malls. I’m not one to shop when I travel and I’d rather spend hours at a monument, funky neighborhood, museum or at a nature reserve. But these giant malls were beckoning me with their flashy, gleaming exteriors. Since my hotel was within walking distance, I decided to pop into the flashiest of them all, Aegean Plaza, to see what the fuss is about.
More than a Just a Mall
Aegean Plaza was built in 2017 making it a relatively new mall in the area. I couldn’t find an official website so I’m not sure exactly how many shops there are inside. It’s massive at 240,000 sq. meters (about 60 acres!) that houses famous international clothing, accessories and shoe stores, restaurants and cafes, and a colorful water fountain musical show at the entrance. What makes Aegean Plaza unique is that you don’t necessarily need to love shopping to enjoy your time there. There’s an art gallery/bookstore, indoor snow and ice park, animal theme park, rooftop garden, and a pony club. It’s the ultimate family playground!
What wowed me in particular is the beautiful multifunctional bookstore/café/gallery concept on the 7th and 8th floor called Light Space. The lower level consists of Xinhua bookstore and café, and the upper level houses the Pearl Art Museum. Light Space was designed by the famous Japanese architect Tadao Ando whose main concept for the space is to bring together the worlds of literature, art and culture. It felt really tranquil in there as the design was not only aesthetically pleasing to the eyes, but also the soul. From what I gather, they seem to only sell Chinese books but it’s no matter if you can’t read the language, it’s just a beautiful place to relax in.
Another incredible feature of Aegean place is the rooftop garden and recreation center. You’re first greeted by huge rabbits at the petting zoo and rows and rows of gorgeous vegetables at Ewin Sky Farm. On a clear day, you can definitely see the skyscrapers in Pudong financial district gleaming in the horizon. I was already impressed by the edible garden and spectacular views but when I walked a little further, I was gobsmacked by the pony club for kids. Yes. Actual ponies on the roof! The Pony International Youth Cavaliers Academy is a French equestrian club that trains all levels of junior riders.
The rooftop is built as a family friendly area for kids, albeit kids from well-to-do families, to experience a slice of nature in a cosmopolitan city. They also have several rooms where parents can throw junior a private birthday party. They were setting up for a party while the kids were riding the ponies. What more can a four year old child ask for?
I read that the mall recently opened a two-story animal theme park called Momole Pet Paradise featuring more than 100 species of rare animals as well as free ocean conservation courses open to the public. There’s also Zhilu Ice & Snow Park on the 7th floor that I completely missed out on when I visited. Needless to say, this mall is massive.
If you’re hungry, there are numerous restaurants and cafes to fill your stomachs. I had dinner at Shan Cha Restaurant, serving exquisitely spicy and tasty Sichuan cuisine. I fell in love with the cold noodles there and tried to recreate it at home to capture the aroma of the Sichuan peppers and red chili spices. All the dishes at Shan Cha were well cooked and beautifully plated and I highly recommended it as a dinner treat.
The retail business might be slowing down in many countries, including China, but they’ve figured out how to capture the attention and dollars of non-shoppers at Aegean Plaza. If you’re planning a trip to Shanghai, it’s worth spending half a day exploring this mall.
Address: 上海爱琴海购物公园
1588 Wuzhong Lu, near Baizhang Lu
吴中路1588号, 近白樟路
Metro: 10 mins walk from Longbai Xincun (line 10) exit 3
Hours: Daily, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. (rooftop garden 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.)