"Total investment exceeds 30 billion yuan, covering about 2,000 acres" "Over 450 world-famous stores, 29 amusement facilities and attractions, expected to attract more than 20 million visitors annually, featuring the indoor super IP theme park Nick Park ”。

In the 2019 official release of this "giant" project, the original positioning plan and progress schedule were still retained: "Seamless integration of park and commerce"; "A super-large commercial city complex themed as a park shopping center, the project officially started construction in May 2018 and was planned to be completed and opened in 2020."

This is China Mo (Chongqing) Super Entertainment Complex (hereinafter referred to as "China Mo"). This star project, founded in 2015, has undergone a decade of multiple equity changes, delays, and suspensions. Only recently, when the original site’s exterior wall displayed a new sign "Hi, Chongqing," did people realize that this project is quietly "reviving."

" The dream of a new generation world-class shopping and entertainment center "

China Mo was originally invested and constructed by China Agricultural Guoxin Holding Group Co., Ltd., and in 2017 Jiayuan Group acquired 60% of the project’s shareholder equity for 3.21 billion yuan, later introducing partners such as the American Triple Five Group and ViacomCBS Media Group.

Jiayuan Group is a well-known real estate company with business management, property services, and cultural tourism sectors. ViacomCBS Media Group owns famous IPs like SpongeBob, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and Paw Patrol. The American Triple Five Group is an international company with over 30 years of experience operating large experiential leisure shopping centers, successfully investing in and operating projects like West Edmonton Mall in Canada, Mall of America, and American Dream in the USA.

Notably, Mall of America was once the largest shopping center in the US, pioneering a new retail + entertainment business model, with annual visitors exceeding 42 million (more than the combined visitors of Disney parks and the Grand Canyon that year), and annual revenue close to 2 billion USD; the American Dream project is a super entertainment and leisure center integrating malls, amusement parks, concert halls, cinemas, water parks, and indoor ski slopes, setting multiple world records upon its opening in 2019.

Inspired by Mall of America, the China Mo project initially targeted tens of millions of visitors, aiming to create a "new generation world-class shopping and entertainment center."

Fateful twists and turns and "Final decision"

Since its foundation in 2015, after multiple suspensions, the China Mo project was finally successfully auctioned at the end of 2024 for 1.338 billion yuan, with the buyer being a local state-owned enterprise — Chongqing Free Trade Port Green Innovation Investment Development Co., Ltd. The company officially completed the signing and handover ceremony of the China Mo project on December 23, 2024.

In fact, the ill-fated China Mo project was not auctioned for the first time. Due to suspected illegal land use, construction was repeatedly forced to stop, and the project land was repeatedly listed for judicial auction but failed to sell for various reasons.

After this successful auction, Free Trade Port Green Innovation Investment Development Co., Ltd. quickly launched the continuation plan. The company’s person in charge stated, "The China Mo project will resume construction in 2025 and is expected to officially open in June 2026." This news undoubtedly injects a strong boost to everyone following the China Mo project. As the continuation work progresses, more details about the China Mo project are gradually emerging.

Remaining highlights overview

As part of the original plan, Asia’s first indoor "Nickelodeon Theme Park" is undoubtedly one of China Mo’s biggest highlights. The park is planned to cover about 35,000 square meters, featuring 30 entertainment facilities based on 15 well-known Nickelodeon IPs such as SpongeBob, Garfield, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Paw Patrol, and Dora the Explorer. These facilities include children’s rides, thrill rides, family rides, and more, designed to meet the leisure and entertainment needs of visitors of different ages.

It is worth mentioning that, the original project planned to introduce the highest indoor drop, fastest speed, and longest track Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles-themed roller coaster in China. This roller coaster holds four world records — highest drop (43.5 meters), most inversions (8 times), longest track (1052 meters), and fastest speed (100 km/h). Through the Ninja Turtles IP, visitors can relive childhood memories while experiencing the ultimate roller coaster challenge.

The entire park uses a spherical double-layer free-form large-span column-free space frame structure, combined with a giant transparent dome made of imported ETFE and PTFE multi-layer membranes, creating a super-large column-free amusement space. This design aims to ensure a constant indoor temperature 365 days a year, guaranteeing visitors’ entertainment experience and comfort.

Besides the Nickelodeon Theme Park, the China Mo project also plans rich commercial facilities and a complete transportation network. In terms of commercial facilities, the China Mo shopping center adopts a new composite form of seamless integration of "park + commerce," combining six major shopping scenes: happy family, children’s world, vibrant youth, tech life, global cuisine, and international fashion, providing visitors with a one-stop dining, shopping, and entertainment experience. Meanwhile, the project incorporates Chongqing’s mountain city scenery, cuisine, and cultural features to create a distinctive cultural street, allowing visitors to enjoy a strong Chongqing cultural atmosphere while shopping.

Of course, it is unknown how much of these plans can ultimately be preserved and presented.

Fosun’s involvement, "Revival" is hopeful

Recently, a recruitment notice from Fosun Tourism sparked widespread attention. The job openings include positions such as park operations, commercial operations, and special equipment director. The project location is the "Hi Chongqing" project, formerly known as China Mo.

In March this year, Fosun Tourism underwent a major strategic adjustment, delisting from the Hong Kong Stock Exchange at a repurchase price of HKD 7.8 per share, shifting towards a light-asset operation model. It was revealed that Fosun Tourism This cooperation adopts the light-asset operation model of "brand output + management operation," assisting the project with positioning, planning, and operational management.

Fosun Tourism's CEO, General Bao, once stated that there are many office and commercial infrastructures in Chinese cities, and Fosun Tourism can revitalize idle assets into vacation products to meet people's urban vacation needs. General Bao also revealed that by 2025, Fosun Tourism will upgrade a large "commercial mall" in Chongqing into a "cultural tourism mall" offering more experiences (a cultural tourism commercial complex).

From "China Mo" to "Hi, Chongqing," it's not just a name change but a brand new beginning. It is hoped that whether it is "China Mo" or "Hi Chongqing," it can stand on this new starting point and move closer towards the dream of " The dream of a new generation world-class shopping and entertainment center writing an important chapter in the "cultural tourism revitalization history." Writing an important page in the "cultural tourism revitalization history."