Taichung's Hanshin Intercontinental Plaza Draws Crowds; Qiqi Department Store Area Also Sees Heavy Traffic

TAICHUNG (CNA) – Since the opening of the Hanshin Intercontinental Shopping Plaza in Taichung's Beitun District on the 10th, the Taichung City Government estimates that it attracted over 300,000 people in the first three days. Police said today that the Qiqi department store business district was not affected during the same period, and traffic flow even had to be temporarily cut off due to congestion. The Hanshin Intercontinental Shopping Plaza has made a formidable entrance. The Taichung City Transportation Bureau observed that over 300,000 people visited in the first three days of its opening. Thanks to traffic control measures implemented on some road sections and intersections, the surrounding traffic conditions were generally good. Although the 13th and 14th were regular workdays, the mall was still packed, prompting many netizens to post comments like, 'Don't these people have to work?!' Facing the magnetic pull of the Hanshin Intercontinental Shopping Plaza, department store operators in other districts of Taichung did not dare to be complacent, especially in the Qiqi department store business district, which is prone to traffic jams every holiday. Everyone was concerned about whether the traffic problem could be improved. However, police stated that during the first weekend after the Hanshin Intercontinental's opening, the crowds in the Qiqi district were not significantly affected, and traffic even had to be cut off at one point due to the long queues of cars waiting to park. After the opening of Hanshin Intercontinental, several more brands are yet to open. Today, two popular brands under the Hanlai Gourmet Restaurant Group, 'Hanlai Celebrity Workshop' and 'Hanlai Shanghai Soup Dumpling,' officially opened. The Celebrity Workshop's Taichung Intercontinental branch has added a barbecue department, bringing the signature dish 'Beijing-style Sliced Skin Duck,' which is popular with northern consumers, as a major highlight of the new store. The well-known department store women's shoe company, Dongsheng Group, also gathered its six major brands to set up in Hanshin Intercontinental. Artist Zhong Yao was invited to be a one-day store manager today, showcasing various popular shoe styles and sharing practical fashion tips. Wei Lihui, General Manager of Dongsheng Group, said that Taichung is a mature city with diverse consumption. Optimistic about Taichung's consumption potential, the group brought in six of its brands to the department store, offering different functional shoes to meet the needs of different consumer groups. (Editor: Li Shu-hua) 1150414