KUNMING, China — Kunming Century Golden Resources Shopping Center, a 535,300-square-meter complex, has completed a major renovation in 2026 after 16 years of operation, repositioning itself as an all-age-friendly urban lifestyle hub. The mall introduced more than 90 new brands from January to August, aiming to attract families, young people, parents with children, and senior citizens.

New brands and category mix

In January, Yonghui Supermarket opened a 4,200-square-meter flagship store offering 8,505 product categories, with new items accounting for over 10% of the assortment. The opening drew nearly 10,000 visitors. Jiaxi Banquet Art Center also launched, adding a large-scale wedding and banquet venue. Chain retailers including 7‑Eleven, MANNER Coffee, Yidiandian, Dairy Queen, CAT, and Yaleshi joined the mall to stabilize foot traffic and upgrade the overall consumer experience.

To appeal to younger shoppers, the mall brought in Yunnan’s first stores for brands such as MOOKA, SUBTILE, and Wutian Sushi, as well as entertainment venues like Super Slime DIY Park, Tayunjue IP, and Mowanggu. Fashion and beauty brands including Siwei Women’s Wear, Moyi Designer Women’s Wear, Yunxu, and Xingsimei opened alongside G60 CLUB, a social lounge, creating an integrated shopping, entertainment, and socializing loop for young consumers.

For families, the children’s zone Tongdou Tianxia was significantly upgraded during the summer, adding four Yunnan-first brands and 24 new stores across 4,399 square meters. The mall launched six original intellectual property (IP) characters, offering immersive experiences such as adventure play, IP stage shows, and character parades. It also introduced “Jinyuan Little Classroom” with courses on self‑discovery and Yunnan culture. During summer, foot traffic in the children’s area rose more than 30%, and average visitor dwell time increased by over two hours. Collaborations with Anta Kids and Fila Kids boosted Fila Kids’ sales by 70% year‑on‑year, making it a top performer in the province.

 The dining scene expanded with 22 new restaurant signings from January to August, covering full‑service restaurants, buffets, snacks, and tea drinks. Newcomers include local and emerging brands like Zhenyuan Renjia, Yuxiaorong, Tang Shijiu, Yipin Niuwu, Niubaobei, Junxiaoka, and Ashijiya, along with popular chains Yue Shan Qiu, Chamis, and Dicos, catering to family meals, social gatherings, and quick bites.

Marketing and traffic growth

The mall used seasonal decorations, major events, celebrity appearances, and its own IP portfolio to drive engagement. In early 2026, it featured a snow scene and a 16‑meter “Black Horse” art installation inspired by the Ancient Tea Horse Road. For the May Day holiday, it hosted the first Urban Culture and Consumption Festival with celebrities Chen Zhipeng, Kong Shuhang, and Lu Xifan, drawing more than 600,000 visits. In July, the 14th edition of its in‑house children’s talent show, combined with intangible cultural heritage experiences and children’s theater, attracted over 2.65 million visits for the month. The mall also runs a regular “7:30 Concert” and held events like ethnic dance nights, Torch Festival celebrations, and master classes on intangible heritage, along with a summer campaign offering car raffles for diners to boost nighttime consumption.

To support new tenants, the mall provides services including social media promotion, store visits, media exposure, targeted member outreach, and event coordination. KFC KCOFFEE saw sales rise 53% and ranked first in Yunnan at opening. Pizza Hut Burger’s first Yunnan store ranked among the top three in Southwest China, and more than 30 new stores posted sales among the top three in the province. Overall mall foot traffic increased 30% year‑on‑year, averaging over 80,000 visitors per day and peaking at 160,000. During summer, the mall added more than 30 new social media groups and nearly 5,000 private‑domain members, building a stable customer base for long‑term operations.

Space and operational upgrades

The renovation also included physical space improvements. The mall clarified its zoning: Hall A for sports, Hall B for trends, and Hall C for lifestyle. It renovated the Tingfeng Plaza and a new section of Hall C, incorporating local Yunnan elements such as stone forests, lakes, and oases to create an immersive, walkable environment with interactive art installations. The new layout reduces reliance on traditional retail by integrating retail, dining, children’s experiences, leisure, and lifestyle services into a complete consumer journey.

The management emphasizes full‑cycle support for merchants, from contract signing and renovation preparation to opening promotion and long‑term operations, with services in traffic generation, event coordination, private‑domain cultivation, and venue amenities.

After 16 years of operation and a comprehensive 2026 overhaul, the Kunming Century Golden Resources Shopping Center has transformed from a traditional family‑oriented mall into a city‑level commercial hub with richer offerings, a younger atmosphere, more professional management, stable traffic, and diverse customer segments. The mall says it will continue to refine its tenant mix, innovate in operations, and unlock the value of existing commercial spaces, aiming to bring new scenes and vitality to Kunming’s retail market.