To experience the cosmopolitan side of Guangzhou, you would need to visit the Tianhe neighborhood. Calling it a neighborhood is too much of an understatement. District would perhaps be the better term. However sometimes if you venture further off into unknown neighborhoods, you would find malls where you least expect it.
Before I had left for Guangzhou last year, my mother had told me of a mall she found in Haizhu District that was amidst of construction and that by the time I arrive for vacation, it would be open. So I paid the place two visits during my time. Though most facilities were open to public, it was very empty and very little people would peruse through the shops. I wonder if their people flow had increased by now.
I was alerted to the presence of a Muji. Muji in China has gained recognition among the upper middle class and lots of Chinese people outside their country would often times visit a Muji in their country of stay. I entered this one in the Vankely Mall to see how it would look like.
It appears Muji likes to keep their appearance consistent with all their stores around the world, airy, spacious, and broad. Their products differ from the ones in American market and it becomes apparent that many of the Asia exclusive products are highly coveted by American shoppers like erasable pens.
Other items include a Muji makeup line that I had heard of. Most customers in Asia are familiar with it and are typically saddened to see that it is not sold in the US.
Foods especially are greatly altered to the preferences of the people. There's local teas that probably never make it across overseas and the rumored sauces in packets that I keep hearing about.
I quickly look through (and took pictures) before I left the store. It was terribly empty like the rest of the mall. The location of the mall is an odd one. It is not something that the locals would frequent. I continued to look through the entire mall level by level. They opened several eateries and clothing shops as you ride the escalators upward. I found that they also build a sort of children's center so that parents can have fun with their kids.
Pizza and Japanese cuisine seems to be in the hearts of the people as you see businesses would often open such restaurants. Sadly they are not authentic, only in appearance. I went for lunch to a place called Chinmaya. I was the only customer until later I saw a couple more people come in. They appear to be on break from their jobs. As I wait, I am served a pitcher of hot tea. The decor is very nice. It's very clean and the prices are ok. I ordered a fried gyoza plate for 22 RMB(3.28 USD) and a chicken wing ramen for 33 RMB (4.90 USD). Tea was 2 RMB (0.30 USD) per person.
It was nothing out of the ordinary. Got full from my meal and left for another mall across the street. That's right. There's another mall right across from Vankely called Vanguard. The full name is CR Vanguard and was originally based in Hong Kong. According to Wikipedia, they joined up with Tesco in 2013 which would explain why I see Tesco on their advertising. I only go to the supermarket portion of the mall. They carry some brands that are unique only to their store.
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Places Visited
Vankely
99 Jiangyan Rd, Haizhu Qu, Guangzhou Shi, Guangdong Sheng, China, 510280
99号，江燕路，海珠区，广州市，广东省，中国，510240
Take Line 2 to Jiangtai Road 江泰路 and use Exit C 江南大道南.
CR Vanguard
Located right across the street from Vankely.
Foods
Chinmaya 陈麻家★★★☆☆
Food is ok. Nice decor.
Deep Fried Gyoza
★★★☆☆
I would have preferred it pan fried.
Chicken Wing Ramen
★★★☆☆
Nothing too special.
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