Chongqing, September 17 (Xinhua) — « Non-standard Commercial Spaces » Unleash « Unique » Consumption, Revitalizing Commercial Complexes in Chongqing’s Liangjiang New Area Industrial Park
« I may not remember what I bought, but I will remember the breeze brushing past the window, the drifting clouds in the sky, the music flowing through the restaurant, and the warm, lively atmosphere of friends sitting together. »
« Holding the elderly’s hand, leading the bouncing children, with the little dog following alongside—spending the whole afternoon here makes even time feel gentler. »
« Browsing favorite shops, taking beautiful photos, sharing a warm meal with loved ones—this relaxed, carefree feeling is the best emotional recharge. »
In early autumn, Chongqing sheds the summer heat. At the Xinghui Liangjiang Art Commercial Center, consumers stroll leisurely. What brings them comfort are the diverse shops integrated into the space, continuously breaking away from « traditional » and « standard » models to explore differentiated operational paths toward « one store, a thousand faces. »
The Xinghui Liangjiang Art Commercial Center is a multifunctional complex in Chongqing’s Liangjiang New Area ZhaoMushan district, integrating commercial, artistic, and office spaces. Since its operation began in 2016, it has experienced a contrast between « bustling during office hours and quiet during non-office hours. »
To transform this commercial space into a « life hub » appealing to all age groups, Chongqing Liangjiang New Area Industrial Operation Co., Ltd. recently partnered with Longfor智创生活. With « non-standard commercial spaces » as the core concept, they aim to redefine the project’s value, positioning it as a « full-day energy gathering place, micro-getaway social lifestyle, and business office inspiration source, » driving comprehensive upgrades.
What are non-standard commercial spaces? Generally, they break away from traditional commercial models, emphasizing personalized, differentiated practices—acting as « non-mainstream » or « avant-garde » in the commercial field, innovating in spatial form, scene creation, business mix, and operational models.
In recent years, the number of non-standard commercial projects has significantly increased across China. In Chongqing, projects like the Jinshan Yiku in Cuntan International New Town Fashion Consumption District and the C33 Liangjiang Cultural Creative Park have transformed from traditional frameworks into popular « trendy hubs » through urban renewal strategies.
So, what is the foundation and key to creating non-standard commercial spaces, fostering novelty, and achieving sustainable development?
« Xinghui Liangjiang Art Commercial Center focuses on three core logics: industrial logic, community logic, and design-driven logic, » explained a representative. Industrial logic involves « front shop, back garden, » supported by the ZhaoMushan district’s « over 5,000 enterprises and nearly 120,000 professionals. » Community logic enhances operational capabilities and private traffic through « public-private cooperation, » while design-driven logic emphasizes originality to boost word-of-mouth and weekend foot traffic.
For example, « MAAN COFFEE » within the complex blends natural, classical, romantic, and modern styles, often full by afternoon. Here, consumers can enjoy specialty drinks, light meals during dining hours, experience the outdoors in open seating, or use private rooms for meetings and « brainstorming. »
« Young people increasingly prefer content with new consumption qualities, valuing brand stories and innovation. We aim to create a new space for cultural consumption experiences, such as expanding into board games and ‘tipsy’ economy during specific night hours, offering more interactions and connections beyond coffee, opening up further exploration possibilities, » said a regional manager.
« On this innovative hotbed, there are many R&D personnel who highly accept new things, » noted a Longfor智创生活 representative. « The biggest feature of Xinghui Liangjiang Art Commercial Center is the integration of industry and commerce, a characteristic hard to replicate in other non-standard projects. » By optimizing building hardware, flow planning, brand recruitment, and digital operations tailored to local conditions, user loyalty can be enhanced, nurturing the vibrant vitality of non-standard commercial spaces.
Returning to commercial logic, « attracting and
