China is expected to build an additional 7,500 shopping centres by 2025 according to Deloitte and the Chinese Franchise Association.
The extra 7,500 shopping centres will be in addition to the 3,500 already existing in the country.
China is home to 13 out 20 cities in the world with the most shopping centre floor space under construction. Shanghai, Chengdu and Shenzhen each boast 3.3 million square metres, 3.2 million square metres and 2.6 million square metres of floor space under construction respectively.
Industry experts and legislators have warned about the danger of building too many shopping centres.
They point out that floor space per person in Shanghai is about 2.8 square metres -- 2 to 3 times larger than other cities such as Hong Kong, London, New York and Tokyo. They are worried that many shopping centres will become ghost malls in the future.