As online shopping becomes increasingly popular among younger generations in Shanghai, traditional retail centers and department stores have had to come up with new ways to attract foot traffic. The challenge hasn't deterred investors from entering the market and offering more diversified retail services to local residents.

"The business is facing a severe challenge from e-commerce," Wang Liuhe, secretary-general of Shanghai Merchandise Commercial Profession Trade Association told the Global Times. "But it doesn't mean that the traditional shopping model is going to die. We just need to adapt to the new environment."

Walking down the busy Huaihai Road, one will find once-crowded department stores like Pacific and Parkson are undergoing renovations, while newly opened K11 and iapm are drawing hordes of shoppers.

Shanghai Takashimaya provides attentive service with a nursing room, dressing rooms and a grocery store. Photos: Courtesy of Shanghai Takashimaya

"The competition within the industry is going to create the best practitioner in the business, one that can provide the most-needed services to the consumers," Wang said.

The Global Times checked out three newly opened shopping complexes in the city, which claim to offer visitors a unique retail experience.

Shanghai Takashimaya

Located in the heart of the high-end Gubei community in Changning district, newly opened Shanghai Takashimaya is century-old department store chain Takashimaya's third branch outside of its native Japan.

Following the opening of its first overseas location in Singapore in 1993 and the second outlet in Taipei in 1994, Takashimaya took nearly two decades to set up shop on the Chinese mainland.

Shanghai Takashimaya targets the neighborhood's large foreign community and the high-income professionals working at the Gubei International Fortune Center next door.

Shoppers living outside the area might find the store's location off-putting, but Takashimaya's exquisite service makes a trip worthwhile.

"The same brands are found in every local department store and shopping mall, which makes them look identical," Tatsuo Yano, general manager of Shanghai Takashimaya told the Global Times. "Merely displaying products is no longer enough for today's consumers."

As a 180-year-old department store in Japan, Takashimaya is famous for its discreet and attentive service, and of course, the Shanghai branch has carried on the tradition.

Shanghai Takashimaya provides attentive service with a nursing room, dressing rooms and a grocery store. Photos: Courtesy of Shanghai Takashimaya

Mercato Fresco, a supermarket operated by Takashimaya in the store's basement level, offers a wide selection of imported products from Japan, South Korea and other foreign countries. To create a family environment, the supermarket provides miniature trolleys and little pink shopping baskets just for kids.

After picking up a few groceries, you can leave your purchased goods at the reception desk and continue shopping from the first floor. For moms who come with youngsters, strollers can be rented for free. 

A nursing room is located on the fourth floor, where high chairs, hot water and diaper changing facilities are available. For parents with kids between 3 to 12 years old, they can choose to leave them at the Haba Club close to the children's department and shop freely with their friends. 

The club, which is organized by the German toy brand Haba, offers a variety of classes for kids according to age group. A class costs 90 yuan ($14.71) per hour.

According to Yano, Takashimaya is also the first - and currently only - store in Shanghai to carry a number of foreign brands, including Carolina Herrera from the US, Peuterey from Italy, Eden Park from France and Off&On from Japan.

Address: 1438 Hongqiao Road

Business hours: 10 am to 9:30 pm

Tel: 2223-2688

Shanghai Takashimaya provides attentive service with a nursing room, dressing rooms and a grocery store. Photos: Courtesy of Shanghai Takashimaya

Global Harbor

The 480,000-square-meter, boat-shaped Global Harbor lives up to its reputation as Shanghai's "mother ship" shopping complex. Capped with a glass dome on the center of the main building, the seven-story behemoth (three floors are underground) is a Baroque-style complex with a twin-tower office building.

Designed by British firm Chapman Taylor, the multifunctional space hosts commercial events, art exhibitions and mini concerts. A 30-meter-long glass corridor on the fourth floor is one of its main draws for customers. Walking down the corridor, you can survey the whole shopping center through the glass floor under your feet.

To provide a one-stop shopping experience for consumers, Global Harbor houses a supermarket, restaurants, coffee shops, an ice rink, a 4D theater and luxury as well as affordable fashion brands.

Address: 3300 Zhongshan Road North

Business hours: 10 am to 10 pm

Tel: 400-921-0588

Global Harbor is decorated in Baroque style.

K11

Opened in June on Huaihai Road Middle, K11 Art Mall bills itself as the city's first art shopping mall. Despite being surrounded by malls, it's impossible to ignore K11 when walking down the bustling commercial strip of Huaihai Road. The wooden horses of the carousel in front of the Hong Kong-managed store are eye-catching (unfortunately they're not open for riding).

To create an ambience of natural sceneries, K11 features an electronic waterfall that runs down from the top of the building and the glass wall is decorated with steel butterflies. If you listen closely, you can hear the sound of birds lingering in your ears.

To live up to its reputation as an art mall, K11 has artworks displayed at every corner of the building, including sculptures, installations and paintings. The art gallery Chi K11 on the basement level aims to make high culture accessible to the masses, offering a mini library, a creative souvenir shop and spacious room for exhibitions and events.

Address: 300 Huaihai Road Middle

Business hours: 10 am to 10 pm

Tel: 2310-3188

The wooden horses of the carousel in front of K11 Photos: CFP