Everyone needs their third place: a comfortable corner where they can explore their passions. Rock climbing. Trendy hair tints. Professional spas. Emerging homegrown fashions. Just-caught seafood inventively dished. Link CentralWalk is a place where grandma, mum and daughter all hang, indulging together or in me-time with ample space to do it all.
The Futian district in Shenzhen is one of the Chinese megalopolis’ most affluent, with leading financial institutions, luxury residences and 5-star hotels all calling it home. In the 1990s, the government earmarked for Futian to transform into a new central business district. Anchored by Shenzhen Library to the north, Shenzhen Convention & Exhibition Center to the south and Citizen’s Square in between, the axis sits above hardworking Futian station. Hong Kong is mere minutes away via the High-Speed Rail and a myriad of public transport arteries means easy travel from the CBD to virtually anywhere in the Greater Bay Area.
In the heart of it all is Link CentralWalk. The four-level complex connected directly to the convention centre station first opened under a different owner in 2007 with a circular plan set within a square building. Its skylights, green roof garden and al fresco dining establishments with direct access to a sunken courtyard were immediate hits. As copycat centres opened nearby over the years, the dim, dated and difficult-to-navigate interiors began losing their lustre. Link bought it in 2019 and immediately began examining what needed change, what needed emphasis and what needed to stay. One decision was easy: the name CentralWalk stayed as it was part of Shenzhen lexicon familiar with loyal customers and local taxi drivers.
Greenery and outdoor spaces were emphasised throughout the building for a stronger and more visceral link to nature in the middle of urban Shenzhen. The sunken courtyard received a lively treatment with steps that double as outdoor seating for events or quiet chats amongst friends. Within, two concentric ring corridors bisected by a north-south axis allow for shops of varying sizes and shapes to be adjacent within the 83,900 sqm complex. Dad can look at the latest gadget while keeping an eye on his daughter feeling a need for speed in the skateboard rink. Or they can all hop aboard the Choo Choo Train to check out the entire floor’s offerings while being entertained by pop-up flash mob dancers. There is always something new and different happening every week.
After Link CentralWalk reopened in 2022, enhancements continued as lifestyle habits evolved. Hong Kongers frequent it after COVID lockdown to indulge in quick and convenient getaways. An underutilised supermarket was replaced by a dynamic food and experience hall. A new wave pool in the middle of the atrium gave group members each pursuing their own passions a meeting point for dinner later. Casual and gourmet dining retailers increased to meet demand from those seeking contemporary family-friendly diversions. Shunde Gong transitioned from the back streets of Shenzhen to its first outlet inside a grade A retail mall, reaching new foodies eager to experience its traditional Shunde fare. Along its journey, Link helped Shunde Gong secure, build and market its premises: a win-win collaboration that bodes well for its future growth.
With its bright and breezy bustle, Link CentralWalk continues to be a placemaking hub for new generations of locals and tourists discovering their happy space.
“I never expected so much support from so many for the opening of my first eatery in a shopping centre— this rocks”
“With help from younger colleagues in the know about rapidly shifting trends and socials, we have incubated ideas never tried before—something we can all take pride in”
“ My family goes for beauty rituals, oil paintings and kaiseki: we cannot do all these things at the same place in Hong Kong”
