Shanghai's department stores and shopping malls will be entitled to subsidies and preferential treatment if they can demonstrate to the authorities that they have something to offer in terms of culture, leisure and entertainment, tourism officials announced yesterday.
They can introduce cinemas, performance venues, bookstores, art markets, museums and art galleries, as well as host culture-related creative activities, according to the city's cultural tourism space requirement.
Many businesses are shrinking due to the growing popularity of online shopping, and the move aims to help them adapt, officials said.
