Rail transportation systems in cities such as subway and light track, due to their gathering of streams of people, are endowed with huge business potential. A kind of "hub business" along large interchange centers is emerging in Shanghai, and by the year 2010 at least 10 regional business centers will be built in this way.

As rail traffic spreads quickly in the city, Shanghai witnessed a tendency of central business areas shifting from traditional transportation hubs to rail interchanges. In the Zhongshan Park area, where the No.2 and No.3 rail lines meet, a shopping center covering a total area of 300,000 square meters will open this year. Similar shopping malls are also under plan or construction at Zizhuang Station of line No.1 at the southwest corner of the city and at the Hongkou Stadium and Wujiaochang area of the line No.3 at the northeast corner.

Dense streams of people are a basic condition for thriving business, experts said. Rail traffic hubs usually link subway, light track, bus and taxi together, thus becoming distributing centers of people and vehicle.

According to a business development plan released not long ago, Shanghai will push for establishment of such business centers by making reasonable plans and building supportive facilities in a few years to come.

By People's Daily Online