SM Prime Holdings, Inc. said it is set to open today, Friday, its fifth China mall, SM City Chongqing, in Southwest China.

The company earlier opened SM City Xiamen, SM City Jinjiang, SM City Chengdu, and SM City Suzhou.

“We are very pleased to open our fifth mall in China, SM City Chongqing. We believe Chongqing is a significant market given the city’s huge population and its attractive growth prospects. As we learn more about the market and gain acceptance in China, we intend to penetrate other cities that show promising economic progress. After Chongqing, the pipeline includes the launching of Zibo and Tianjin in 2014,” said Hans T. Sy, SM Prime President.

Located in the Yubei District, SM City Chongqing has a gross floor area (GFA) of 149,080 square meters (sqm), 85 percent of which has already been awarded to various tenants. 

“With its strategic location and transport accessibility, the mall will serve a population of approximately 30 million residents in the city of Chongqing offering a mix of local and international stores. The shopping mall’s major tenants are Vanguard Supermarket, SM Department Store and Wanda Cinema. Junior tenants include Vero Moda, Only, Jack & Jones, Starbucks, Watsons, and Kidswant,” SM Prime said.

SM City Chongqing is a one building structure with five levels. Its exterior design features fish scale panels accentuated by lightings. The mall’s interior has slanted glass panels that define lobbies that help create grand entrance ambiance.

Chongqing has several economic and technological development zones and is a major railway hub. The city also boasts of cultural heritage and natural attractions, and is the starting point for the Yangtze River cruise, which explores the impressive scenery of China’s famous Three Gorges.

SM City Chongqing is the sixth SM mall to be opened by SM Prime this year, after SM City Olongapo in Zambales, SM City Consolacion in Cebu, SM City San Fernando in Pampanga, SM City General Santos in South Cotabato and SM Lanang Premier in Davao.

SM Prime has already completed all its programmed expansions for 2012. It now has a total of 51 SM malls in the Philippines and in China, with a combined GFA of 6.3 million sqm., an area a litte bigger than the whole City of San Juan.