Two new commercial complexes in Guangzhou are offering visitors a new riverside leisure experience during China's 2026 National Day holiday (October 1 to October 7).
GUANGZHOU BAIETAN MIXC
The two complexes are GUANGZHOU BAIETAN MIXC and Taikoo Li Julong Wan Guangzhou, both in the Baietan Central Business Zone in Liwan District, about 2.5 kilometers apart by car along the Pearl River. Their openings mark a shift in Guangzhou's retail landscape, traditionally concentrated in Tianhe District on the city's east side.
GUANGZHOU BAIETAN MIXC
Under guidelines issued by Guangzhou in 2025 to promote the high-quality development of its commercial districts, the Baietan Central Business Zone is one of the city's five designated world-class landmark commercial districts. Situated at the convergence of Guangzhou's central urban area and the Pearl River waterway, the zone was once a global trading hub but declined as the city expanded east. The two new complexes aim to bring this historic waterfront back into the heart of the city's urban life.
Taikoo Li Julong Wan Guangzhou
GUANGZHOU BAIETAN MIXC: A high-end mall rising by the Pearl River
GUANGZHOU BAIETAN MIXC opened on September 30. It is Guangzhou's first MIXC shopping mall, with over 200,000 square meters of commercial space.
Designed with extensive glass facades and riverside-facing storefronts, the mall combines shopping with views of the Pearl River, the modern skyline and historic buildings.
Its layout includes a restored century-old academy and a 30,000-square-meter riverside park.
The mall hosts nearly 500 brands, over 60 percent of which are debut, flagship or customized stores. It has more than 130 dining brands and over 150 apparel brands. It also includes 21 international beauty brands, some making their Guangzhou debuts.
Adjacent to the Baietan Greater Bay Area Art Center and other city landmarks, the mall aims to create a high-end cultural and tourism experience connected by riverside promenades and Pearl River cruises.
Taikoo Li Julong Wan Guangzhou: An open-air art space on an industrial heritage site
Taikoo Li Julong Wan Guangzhou opened its first phase on September 29. It is the first Taikoo Li project in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. Built on the site of former docks and industrial warehouses, the open-air, low-density retail block preserves red-brick facades and timber roof structures from Guangdong's industrial heritage, turning old warehouses into retail, art exhibition and social spaces.
The project plans regular cultural events, an artist-in-residence program and high-profile branded events, including World of Dance.
Phase One of Taikoo Li Julong Wan Guangzhou features over 100 retail brands, with more than 80 percent already open and about 40 percent making their Guangzhou or South China debuts. Phase Two will open in stages from October 2027, adding over 300 tenants.
Reporter | Huang Xinyi
Photos | Huang Xinyi, GUANGZHOU BAIETAN MIXC, Taikoo Li Julong Wan Guangzhou
